Millions of motorists are driving around with poor eyesight, according to a survey in the UK.

As many as 23 per cent of those not wearing glasses admit their vision is less than perfect, the poll by LV= car insurance found.

And seven per cent of drivers who should wear glasses for driving do not always put them on when they get behind the wheel, the poll revealed. Some of those who admit sight difficulties say they have trouble seeing at night and others struggle in bad weather.

Yet a third of them have not had their eyes tested in the last five years and 13 per cent have either had a test more than 10 years ago or never had one.

In a test of 256 randomly-selected drivers, LV= car insurance found nine per cent were unable to make out a number plate just over 20 metres away on their first attempt. This figure rose to 18 per cent of drivers aged 55 or over.

Of those who should wear glasses for driving but do not, 57 per cent said they simply forget to put them on and 32 per cent think it unnecessary.