I know that the law says that we have to have spare glasses in the car but my friend tells me that most people put any old glasses in there because the GG do not know whether they are for reading or distance and only check that you carry them in the car. Has anyone else heard this?

Rosemary

I am sure the Guardia have no way of telling what type of spare glasses you are carrying. I sometimes wear glasses to drive and last time they stopped me at a routine check, they didn't ask to see spare glasses. Fortunately I passed my driving medical without glasses so I could produce that if there was a problem.

I thought you were talking about having spare glasses in the car just in case you found an abandoned bottle of brandy by the roadside.

Silly me.

One of the requirements for cars crossing into Spain from Gibraltar was that if there was a passenger who had a driving license also wore glasses then they had to carry a spare pair in case they needed to take over the driving,

How stupid!!

Where does that end - do ALL passengers have to do the same just in case ....

When you say 'was', were you harking back to a time when cars were actually able to cross from Gibraltar to Spain?

We carry a 2 Euro pair of reading glasses in the car and I'm pretty sure that they would suffice for whichever of us was driving - either me (very short-sighted) or OH (very long-sighted).

The whole point is for your own (and your passengers') safety, in case you lose or break your regular glasses while you're out. So why on earth would you keep a spare pair that you can't see to drive in?

Well, in 40 years of driving, of which I think I've worn glasses for about 35, let me see, how many times have I lost, or broken them so they were unusuable, errr - none

Yes this was a few years ago, I have not come across it recently, but checking all passengers plus licenses plus glasses can slow down the traffic very well.

What about surgical gloves in case you come across someone with AIDS requiring assistance?

Exactly, couldn't agree more

Just because if hasn't happened doesn't mean it can't

Suzi

And just because it can happen, doesn't mean it will

someone please tell me what type of glasses my wife should keep in the car. She can see a 2mm stain on my shirt at 300 yards, on a dark, moonless, foggy night, but can miss a 44 tonne artic, coming down the wrong side of the road, on a clear day.

Now that sounds like a darned good idea.

Rosemary

Be careful, I have heard of the GC asking drivers to put on their spare glasses and read a number plate, in the distance. Maybe they don't know if the glasses are yours, or the correct ones (as any prescription glasses that are needed) but if you fail while wearing them, the fine is yours.

That's like saying it's not worth bothering with car insurance because you've never had an accident!