Heavy penalties may be given to drivers with uncorrected eyesight

Officers will visit several supermarket car parks in Sheffield and Rotherham checking drivers can read a number plate at the legally required distance of 20.5m.

If they fail they will see an on-site optician, get advice from an eye expert and be spoken to by the police.

It is thought one in three drivers take to the roads without regular eye tests.

'Obvious dangers'

Police will be targeting drivers in a number of supermarket car parks and say the scheme is a bid to make people aware of the dangers of having poor eyesight.

Pc John Richardson, from South Yorkshire Police, said: "Research during the past few years estimated that a large percentage of people are driving with uncorrected vision.

"People must realise that apart from the obvious dangers, there could be other penalties such as a fine of up to �1,000, three points, possible disqualification and invalidating your insurance."

Karen Dolling, support nurse at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "It's amazing how much your eyesight can change over the space of a year or two, so it's really important that you get your eyes tested regularly to make sure you are safe to drive."