Brighton drivers prone to prangs, says research

Brighton drivers are among the most accident-prone in the country, according to new research.

They came fifth in a poll behind those from Bristol, Swansea, Belfast and Coventry.

The poll was carried out for Specsavers, the chain of opticians, which is eyeing an opportunity to do more business after a change in motoring law.

From 2011, according to Specsavers, a European Union law will require drivers to have regular eye tests – a change supported by most drivers, according to the research.

Specsavers’ co-founder Dame Mary Perkins said: “We welcome the new EU legislation and are pleased to see that the public realises the benefits of regular eye examinations for motorists.

“While some crashes were blamed on bad roads or horrible weather conditions, it’s worrying to see that so many of the accidents are down to people not concentrating or being able to see properly.”

The research found that 12 per cent of drivers who had crashed in the past year said that the accident was because they weren’t wearing their glasses or couldn’t see properly.

Dame Mary said: “This research shows how important eyesight is to road safety, both for motorists and those around them.

“Our vision helps us to spot potential dangers giving us more time to react and therefore avoid accidents.”

The poll of 3,000 people found that more than three quarters agreed that motorists should be required by law to have their sight examined regularly.

And 96 per cent said that they would make sure they had frequent eye tests if it meant their car insurance would be cheaper.