Safe Speed Forums

The DSA now insist any candidate arriving for test wearing a veil must remove it to allow their identity to be confirmed against their photo ID licence card.

Wherever possible(their words) this will be done in private, by a female examiner.

The eyesight part of the test remains unaltered - provided they can read the numberplate at 67/66 feet wearing a veil, they are allowed to continue the test.

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That's how Nazi Germany started. They'll be burning books next. (Brian Noble, Wigan coach - updated 20/4/06!!).

I think they should introduce a peripheral vision test as well, to make sure that headgear is not resulting in tunell vision. It's frightening to think of people driving around unable to see to the sides, but (apparently) fully legal because they can read a number plate right in front.

There are some very worring designs of spectacles around too, where the bar going back to the ear is thick, obstructive and exactly at eyeball height.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

Intrepid journalist wrote in MEN the Saturday following debacle over Jack Straw's admission to asking these women to show themselves so that he could relate to them via his own culture and upbringing.


She donned a veil and drove to the Trafford Centre. As I recall from this piece .. she felt claustrophobia from breathing through fabric but claimed her vision was OK. Her photo in niqab as per MEN was not as concealing as the sacked teacher's by the way.

Her verdict was that she felt unable to communicate.. but did feel "anonymous" despite the glances in the shopping mall.

I guess it depends on the style of this garment as they do vary.

My personal view: Like Jack.. I want to see my patients and will request I do see in order to treat properly. I will have a female nurse present and if I can .. one of similar faith so as to show I do understand. but..

Usually they comply as they want to live after all. But I do try to be as understanding and gentle as warrants my position.

I see nothing wrong in requesting verification of identity and do question why they need to wear a veil when we have an automated enforcement policy which more and more relies on photographic evidence.

Perhaps we should all wear these veils. I wonder how we'd prove who was driving what then .. But that's illegal.. but I bet a lot will use it under the "ping and not bother checking insurance, MOT, and simply requesting naming a driver .. which as we see leads to severe injustice at times.

Bring back them police. We need 'em!

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If your eyesight is anything like mine (-11/-12), the design of the frame/earpiece is more or less irrelevent. Unless I'm looking through the lense, I really can't see anything at all. People with less defective vision may still be able to make out enough to see motion etc but really for me it's no help at all. Peripheral vision is dramatically better with contacts in, although looking out of the corner of my eyes is still awkward because it displaces the lenses.

What's the problem with making people show their face to identify themselves, anyway? A photocard provides no identification at all, unless your face can be seen. Just as you have to take your gloves off before you are finger printed.

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Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)

But, but, but, peripheral vision is always crap in terms of resolution (you can't read with it for example). The beauty of peripheral vision for drivers is that you pick up on movement - and you don't need good focus or good resolution for that.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

It's not just a matter of peripheral vision.

A problem I have when wearing my glasses is that I have to turn my head to see to the side wheras I can just glance sideways when wearing my contacts.

Ahh. We have topic drift!

I was specifically talking about glasses where thick arms act as blinkers.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

I won't pretend that eyesight as bad as mine is typical, and if you've got half decent sight that peripheral vision probably does have value, but to be honest with all the distortion and with it so far out of focus, it really is no practical use for me when I'm wearing glasses. Different matter with lenses in, I can't look out of the corner of my eye without displacing the lense - so I don't - but the whole field of view is in focus and it's all useful.

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Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)

how about the sped cam identification issues though?

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Welcome to the UK, the Land of "Selective Freedoms"

I think I did once comment about the Hamilton defence being a little stronger in this instance of donning a full veil I think that's why they brought in restrictions over tinted glass.

However, I am sure it must affect peripheral vision and as such can be a hazard.

Speaking personally as someone who does occationally don a mask over nose and mouth when treating patients to prevent exchange of lurgies on each side.. I can only say I only feel relief when I discard it. I think it would seriously upset me if I wore one in the car as it does give a "claustrophobic feel" - and that's just a plain old surgical mask over my nose and mouth.

_________________
If you want to get to heaven - you have to raise a little hell!

Smilies are contagious
They are just like the flu
We use our smilies on YOU today
Now Good Causes are smiling too!

KEEP SMILING
It makes folk wonder just what you REALLY got up to last night!

Smily to penny.. penny to pound
safespeed prospers-smiles all round! !
But the real message? SMILE.. GO ON ! DO IT! and the world will smile with you!
Enjoy life! You only have the one bite at it.