AROUND one in eight British drivers stubbornly ditch their glasses despite being required to wear them while behind the wheel.

Motorists should know whether this will land them with a fine to pay - and if this affects what their insurance covers. 

Yes - in some cases you could be fined £1,000.

The Highway Code says drivers must be able to read a car number plate accurately from 20 metres before setting off on a journey. 

If you see a 01 in the box marked 12 on the back of your licence, you’re required by law to wear them.

Failing to do so could land you with a £1,000 fine and up to three points on your driving licence.

Drivers who refuse to wear glasses despite being required to could face being charged with "driving with uncorrected defective eyesight", which carries three penalty points and a fine based on a percentage of your income.

It could also see you charged with dangerous driving, which can lead to an unlimited fine, a road ban and even jail time in extreme cases.

Driving without glasses means there can be an increased risk of an accident happening.

Studies have shown that poor vision is one of the main causes of accidents, but it’s also one of the easiest preventable reasons.

As it’s illegal to drive without glasses for those who are required to wear them, doing so could also invalidate your car insurance. 

If you end up in an accident, you could be left with a hefty bill for repairs to your car and the other person’s vehicle. And you may also have to pay any legal costs that would have been covered on your policy too.

As visibility tends to reduce as it gets darker outside, driving at night is a lot riskier than driving in daytime in general and is particularly tricky for those with poor vision.

Driving at night can also be when lots of drivers first realise they have an eyesight problem as they struggle to see traffic signs properly when confronted with glare from oncoming vehicles and traffic lights.

Some people turn to so-called night driving glasses, but there is no scientific proof that they work and, in fact, there is evidence to suggest that the yellow tint can actually reduce visibility, according to RAC.

If you’re experiencing problems with your vision, the best thing to do is get your eyes tested to make sure you’re wearing the correct glasses for driving at night.

The official advice for getting eye tests is that you should do so at least every two years.

So even if you don’t wear glasses for driving right now, you should keep on top of having eye teste to make sure you are safe on the road.

Verstappen will quit F1 if he loses engineer who helped him beat Hamilton

BGT star Charlotte Jaconelli unrecognisable nine years after show

Martine McCutcheon rejected by bosses from huge BBC show for brutal reason

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang & My Fair Lady star dies aged 91 after stellar career

©News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. View our online Press Pack. For other inquiries, Contact Us. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO)

Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/