Nearly 5,000 Drivers Denied Licences Over Poor Eye Health – DVLA

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has revealed that 4,896 commercial and private vehicle drivers were denied licences in 2025 after failing mandatory eye examinations.

According to the authority, the affected applicants were diagnosed with various eye conditions, including glaucoma, cataracts, and refractive errors that made them unfit to drive safely.

A total of 251,117 drivers underwent eye screening at DVLA-accredited centres across the country during the year. Out of this number, 218,471 applicants, representing 87%, successfully passed the tests. The denied applicants formed part of an initial 32,645 drivers who failed the first round of examinations.

Chief Executive of the DVLA, Julius Neequaye Kotey, explained that the decision was in line with Regulation 29 of Legislative Instrument 2180 under the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683), which requires all new and renewing licence applicants to undergo eye testing.

The authority noted that maintaining proper vision standards is essential to improving road safety and reducing accidents caused by impaired eyesight. DVLA officials encouraged drivers to undertake regular eye examinations and seek medical attention for any vision-related challenges before applying for licence renewal.

Source: GhanaWeb