The new European Directive will replace 110 difference types of licences, covering legislation in 27 countries, plus . Passed in the EU Parliament two years ago, the legislation will be introduced in member states at the start of January 2011 and each country has until 2013 to translate it into national law.

Introducing the idea of repeat sight checks for motorists for the first time, under the directive drivers will be categorised into two groups; private licence holders with corrected vision of at least 6/12 (0.5) or 6/10 (0.6) if only one eye is functioning, and visual fields of a minimum 120 degrees; and professional drivers who must have corrected visual acuities of at least 6/7 (0.8) with binocular vision and the worst eye at least 6/12 (0.5). A restriction will also apply if the correction exceeds -8.00D (-8.75 in contact lenses) and the uncorrected visual acuities must be at least 6/20 (0.05).