Festival-goers offered virtual reality gaming and free eye tests at weekend event

Petrolheads and music fans will be transported to a Formula One racing track as the Vision Express Vision Van revs up for an adrenaline filled weekend at CarFest South.

The national optician’s state-of-the-art Vision Van will be at the three-day annual festival in Hampshire with its #EyeTestsSaveLives campaign, offering free comprehensive eye tests and calling attention to the dangers of driving without roadworthy vision.
Visitors paying a visit to the Van, can try out one of three virtual reality headsets, showing a 360 degree video from the driving seat of a hot red Formula One racing car. Lasting just over three minutes, users will be transported around a race track; navigating through tricky obstacles, sharp bends and other vehicles.
Guests will also be encouraged to try out a paddle board game too; where they will be asked eye-related and driving questions, to be answered yes or no with the coloured paddles.

Vision Express will be offering vouchers for a free contact lens consultation with the support of ACUVUE®. For those looking to recharge after an action-packed day, the optician’s site will also boast a free mobile charging point.
Vision Express is on a mission to safeguard the UK’s roads by raising awareness of the importance of eye tests for drivers, after its research found 1 in 4 adults are not having regular eye tests. A worrying 78% of visitors to CarFest North in July were found overdue an eye test. The only required vision check for motorists is reading a registration plate from 20 metres away as part of a standard driving test. It is now estimated that 5 million UK drivers would fail this if they had to take it again.

CarFest South 2018 will be taking place from 24th to 26th August at Laverstoke Park Farm, Hampshire. It is held in aid of BBC Children in Need and is aimed at both car lovers and families– with events such as supercar racing, vintage vehicle displays and a ‘Car-nival’, not to mention live music from the likes of Paloma Faith, James Bay, Status Quo and Clean Bandit and a selection of food and drink pop-ups.

Vision Express CEO Jonathan Lawson said: “After the success at CarFest North, we’re excited to take our Vision Van to its sister event in Hampshire and have some fun whilst also highlighting the importance of maintaining regular eye tests.”

“Studies tell us that around 3,000 road casualties every year are down to people driving with below par vision and we have long been campaigning to raise awareness around the link between good eye health and safer roads. With a captive audience of car enthusiasts, it will be the perfect platform to drive home our ‘Eye Tests Save Lives’ message.”

To watch the virtual reality 360 degree video which will be shown on the headsets at the event, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny62zkZwszU&t=42s