Thanks Lucy Specsavers i didn't know.

I can't believe that bi-annual eye test has not been a mandetory requirement particularly in this health& safety world. At least this is safety related and has got to save lives.

It could be flagged at DVLA as is mot/tax/ins. It would be a comfort to know that drivers around you could at least see.

new zealand where the average braking distance is half an inch

I can't see any problem with your grandfather driving at 89 his perception and awareness might be a lot better than other drivers.Every individual is different my grandfather when he was in his late seventies was still piloting ships.

Day time running lights on all new EC cars from 2011 iirc...

Captain Chaos: Please keep up to date! :-)

"

In September 2008 the European Commission adopted a proposal for a Directive that will introduce dedicated daytime running light (DRL) on all new types of passenger cars and small delivery vans from February 2011 onwards. Trucks and buses will follow from August 2012 onwards.

There will be no requirement to retro-fit daytime running lights to existing cars and no Europe-wide requirement for drivers of cars without dedicated daytime running lights to drive with headlights on during the day.

Where fitted, dedicated daytime running lights will switch on automatically when the engine is started. "

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/safety/daytime-running-lights.html

I beleive it's a legal requirement to drive on dipped headlights when raining and wipers in use(not parking/sidelights),but most seem to ignore this no matter how poor the visability.