Night vision of Australian drivers poor
The TAC and optometrists have warned that there will be more Australians who have difficulties in seeing the road after dark, with the end of daylight savings.
According to the survey of 1,000 Australians aged 18 to 25, one in three drivers are concerned their vision might affect their ability to identify hazards at night.
About 51 per cent of the women and 36 per cent of the men rated their night vision as poor to average.
Night vision was a key factor in road safety especially as the day shortened into winter and standard time resumed in those states with daylight savings, said the Traffic Accident Commission (TAC) and the Optometrists Association Australia.
As the days get shorter, the need to drive in darker conditions naturally becomes more prevalent, Samantha Cockfield, TAC Road Safety Manager, said.
Good vision is essential to a driver's ability to identify hazards and concentrate on the roads, especially on dark stretches and in poor weather conditions.
The findings reiterate the importance of having regular eye checks to ensure you are as fit as possible to drive safely on our roads.
A total of 14 per cent of respondents said they avoided driving at night due to difficulties with their vision, the survey said.
A total of 91 per cent of respondents said tiredness was an issue that made driving more difficult.
Other factors that made driving difficult include strong lights from oncoming cars (86 per cent), distractions from within the car (82 per cent) and eye conditions such as short-sightedness (32 per cent).
Shirley Loh, professional service manager of the Optometrists Association Australia said drivers who were concerned about their night vision should consult with an optometrist to get their eyes checked.
She said corrective lenses can improve eye comfort and reduce stress while driving.
It is common for people with perfect day vision to have difficulties seeing at night, including blurriness, double vision of seeing haloes around lights, said Ms Loh.
Dry, tired and fatigued eyes are other common problems for many people, particularly those who have worked or studied for long periods.