Vision Screening Drive Reaches 2.5 Million Drivers Across India

Mumbai: A coalition of vision and road safety organisations has screened 2.5 million drivers across India, underscoring the growing recognition of eye health as a critical factor in preventing road accidents. The

milestone was highlighted at the Vision and Road Safety (VARS) Conference held in Mumbai, bringing together stakeholders from transport, health, and development sectors.

Globally, road crashes claim approximately 1.19 million lives annually, while India accounts for nearly 11% of these deaths despite having only about 1% of the world’s vehicles. In 2024 alone, the country recorded 4.87 lakh accidents and 1.77 lakh fatalities. Research presented at the conference showed that drivers with cataracts are 2.5 times more likely to be involved in at-fault crashes, and over 26% of truck drivers suffer from refractive errors.

The VARS Conference, organised by India Vision Institute, Mission for Vision, Sightsavers India, and VisionSpring Foundation, emphasized integrating vision as the fifth “E” of road safety—alongside Engineering, Enforcement, Education, and Emergency Medical Services. Experts stressed that improved screening and access to corrective eyewear could significantly reduce preventable crashes.

The coalition has also distributed over 1.17 million eyeglasses and plans to screen an additional 300,000 drivers nationwide. Discussions focused on embedding vision care into national road safety frameworks aligned with the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030.

Representatives of the VARS Alliance said, “Safe driving begins with clear vision, yet eye health is still often overlooked in road safety systems. The VARS Conference brings together stakeholders from the health, transport, and development sectors to advance this conversation. If we are serious about preventing road crashes and protecting lives, vision screening and access to corrective care must become a routine part of driver health and road safety mechanisms. By working together to strengthen vision screening programmes and ensure drivers have access to quality eye health, we can help drivers see clearly and make our roads safer for everyone.”