New research reveals 1 in 5 truck drivers in India have blurry vision
NEW DELHI : New research reveals a critical gap in road safety, with more than two-thirds of commercial drivers in India having never had their vision tested before receiving their licence, despite this being a legal requirement.
The study, led by VisionSpring in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast and other partners screened 9,857 drivers across eight Indian states at automotive shops and transit hubs. It was found that nearly a fifth of commercial drivers (17.7%) had blurry distance vision and required eyeglasses.
The study revealed that after receiving vision correction through eyeglasses, drivers experienced improvements in judging distance and speed, recognizing road signs and traffic lights, driving in poor weather conditions, parking or reversing, and navigating during the daytime—even in familiar areas.
More than half of drivers who initially struggled with glare, night driving, spotting moving objects, and judging distances reported major improvements in their vision after getting a pair of eyeglasses, highlighting how they can significantly improve safe driving.
India relies heavily on road freight, with trucking as the primary mode of transport and the country’s road network the second largest in the world. The freight sector contributes 4.7% to India’s GDP and is projected to grow nearly 10% annually, making clear vision among drivers an economic and public safety priority.
Road traffic injuries are a global crisis. According to the World Health Organization, crashes are the leading cause of death for people aged 5 to 29 and claim more than 1.35 million lives every year. In response, the United Nations has pledged to halve road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030.
As India’s freight sector expands and its driver population ages, the number of drivers with vision impairments will continue to rise. This study underscores an urgent need for stronger enforcement of existing laws and routine vision screening for commercial drivers.
Ella Gudwin, the CEO of VisionSpring, comments: “Our research confirms what we’ve long observed through our See to Be Safe programme – vision screening for commercial drivers remains critically under-enforced despite existing regulations. Drivers with corrected vision experience four times fewer difficulties with vital tasks such as reading road signs – the solution couldn’t be clearer.
“As India’s freight sector expands rapidly, routine vision checks are not merely a safety precaution – they are an urgent, life-saving intervention. Simple, proven solutions like eye examinations and eyeglasses can prevent crashes, protect livelihoods, and save countless lives on our roads.”
VisionSpring is working to solve this issue through its See to be Safe initiative where it screens people’s vision in low-income communities – providing 4,21,372 commercial drivers in India with eyeglasses to date.
However, VisionSpring and civil society are not able to solve this problem alone, and moving forward, governments, transport authorities, and fleet operators need to prioritize vision screening as an immediate road safety intervention while investing in accessible eye care for commercial drivers.