GLASSES shops in Thurrock joined a national road safety campaign.

Specsavers, stores in Grays and at intu Lakeside Shopping Centre marked Road Safety Week from November 21 to November 27 by encouraging drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to stay sharp on the roads and help prevent the 2,900 casualties caused each year due to poor driver vision.

With sight-related accidents also costing £33m annually Specsavers stores in Thurrock, are calling for the quarter of drivers that have not had an eye examination in two years to visit the store.

The Road Safety Week 2016 theme, Make the Brake Pledge, was about people all over the country understanding six key things they can do to protect themselves and the people around them, and reduce emissions and pollution from vehicles.

The six Brake Pledge points are: Slow, Sober, Secure, Silent, Sharp and Sustainable.

Jay Visrolia, store director of Specsavers intu Lakeside Shopping Centre said: ‘I was shocked to learn that poor driver vision alone leads to 55 casualties every single week and costs an estimated £33 million.

‘A regular eye examination is a legal requirement for drivers but it is your personal responsibility to ensure you are having your eyes tested frequently.’

Niki Kaur, store director at Specsavers in Grays adds: ‘We’d urge every road user to make a Brake pledge to make our roads safer.

'Your pledge can be as simple as booking an eye examination, carrying a spare pair of specs in your car, not driving when tired, or even to drive less and use public transport more.’