A quarter of all drivers could be driving unsafely due to poor eyesight, according to the results of a new survey conducted by the RAC Foundation.

And the foundation is so worried at the findings that it has written to the Department for Transport urging it to initiate a publicity campaign highlighting the dangers.

The RAC Foundation initiative involved the eye-testing of 3000 drivers who attended the recent International Motor Show at the NEC in Birmingham. And 700 of them failed a basic vision test.

"Few motorists are aware that it is an offence to drive with uncorrected vision and the penalty for failing to declare a medical condition which may render them unfit to drive can be as much as £1000," says a foundation spokesman.