Roadside eye checks could see licences revoked

Officers from Cleveland Police's Matrix team will carry out the tests

Roadside eyesight tests could lead to motorists having their licences revoked on the spot, police have warned.

To raise awareness of legal driving standards, Cleveland Police officers are currently conducting random voluntary vision screenings.

Drivers unable to read a number plate from a distance of 20m (about 65ft) risk having their licences taken away under Cassie's Law legislation.

A spokesman for the force said: "Drivers who fail to meet required standards are not only breaking the law but putting themselves and other road users at risk."

The roadside tests will see motorists asked to read a number plate in daylight conditions, while wearing glasses or contact lenses they would rely on while driving.

If police deem them unsafe to be on the road, they could be fined, have points put on their licence or have it completely revoked.

Cassie's Law

Cassie's Law, introduced in 2013, was inspired by the death of 16-year-old Cassie McCord.

She died in 2011 when 87-year-old Colin Horsfall lost control of his car in Colchester, having failed a police eyesight check days earlier.

Three days before the crash, police had spent hours trying to persuade Mr Horsfall not to drive again after he was involved in a minor collision.

However, they did not then have the powers to immediately suspend his licence.

Since the introduction of Cassie's Law, officers can request an urgent revocation of a driver's licence through the DVLA if they believe other road users could be at risk.