People warned not to test eyesight by driving after Dominic Cummings' statement

The chairman of the Police Federation has urged people not to drive if they think their eyesight might be impaired.

It comes after the prime minister’s chief advisor Dominic Cummings defended driving 30 miles to Barnard Castle in County Durham during the lockdown, saying he wanted to take a short trip to check whether he was fit to drive back to London – on a day that also just happened to be his wife’s birthday.

John Apter wrote on Twitter: ‘Folks, I say this in all sincerity and as an important road safety issue.

‘If you’re feeling unwell and your eyesight may be impaired do not drive your vehicle to test your ability to drive. It’s not a wise move.

‘As a former road death investigator with Hampshire police I have investigated many serious collisions, including fatalities.

‘Some of these were caused by drivers with impaired vision, this is a serious issue. Do not drive if your eyesight is impaired or you feel unwell.’

Speaking in the Downing Street rose garden today, Mr Cummings said: ‘On Sunday 12th April, 15 days after I first displayed symptoms, I decided to return to work.

‘My wife was very worried, particularly given my eyesight had seemed to have been affected by the disease.

‘She’s not one to risk a nearly 300-mile drive with our child given how ill I had been.

‘We agreed we should go for a short drive to see if I could drive safely.’

The statement raised eyebrows on social media, with some asking if getting in the car was now what passed for an eye test.

One man wrote: ‘Sorry @Specsavers I need to cancel my eye test appointment. I shall be driving to Barnard Castle instead…’

Another said: ‘Hi @specsavers! For people concerned with their eyesight, have you considered adding ‘driving your family around for a bit’ to the standard eye test?’

Mr Cummings has faced scrutiny for his decision to drive from London to Durham after his wife became unwell, saying he did it in case he also became unwell and the couple needed childcare support from his parents.

He said he isolated in a separate cottage to his parents and did not stop on the trip north.

He denied making another trip to Durham after returning to London and said he had not considered resigning.

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