No resources, family or friends Safe driving in summer

SUMMER in Spain has been dubbed accident season, as millions of people take to the roads for holidays. Due to higher volumes of traffic, increased alcohol consumption, greater numbers of tourists and hot weather, there are more road traffic accidents in the summer meaning drivers need to be extra vigilant ­ especially with their vision.

In the months of July and August 2022 alone, there were 225 deaths due to road traffic accidents in Spain. This is why, the experts at Specsavers Ópticas are urging people to make sure their eyesight will not be a cause of accidents this summer and give this advice.

Make sure your prescription is up­to­date ­ it is extremely important to keep up­to­date with your eye tests ­ at least once every two years or more often if required.

Choose lenses for driving in bright sunshine ­ Polarised lenses are a good option for driving during summer months as they eliminate glare. They also offer 100 per cent UV protection, improve contrast and help ease the strain on your eyes.

Avoid dry eyes ­ Make sure air vents are angled in such a way that cool air is not blowing into the face. Also make sure to blink regularly, to prevent dryness.

Francisco Jurado, director of Specsavers Ópticas in Torrevieja, Guardamar and La Zenia said: “Good eyesight is one of the most basic requirements of safe driving. It means drivers will be able to spot potential dangers, see pedestrians and other vehicles, read road signs and judge speed, distance and movement. Before you take to the road this summer make sure you have an upto­date eye test.”

For more information or to book a test visit www.specsavers.es

THE British Benevolent Fund was founded over a century ago to help Britons in Spain in extreme financial difficulties. People with no resources, and no family or friends’ network available.

The BBF works with partner charities from www.supportin spain.info and the British consular network to find solutions wherever possible. Many of these difficulties are often made worse by sudden illness.

A current case is a of a man who came to live in Spain some years ago but who hadn’t done his residency by the time of the Brexit withdrawal agreement and found himself without any medical or state support in the event that something would go wrong.

He had resources and savings and was confident that he would be able to fix the issue and be covered privately until the belated application form was processed.

However, things did not go according to plan.

He was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and doctors gave him a small but fighting chance of beating it.

Which he took ­ very quickly savings were depleted, and resources used to pay for private treatment which ate into everything he had.

He sold his car, downsized to a small apartment and made ends meet as best he could, but his world was getting smaller. He was soon on food banks and the Red Cross.

Then the private health insurance stopped.

Which is where the BBF came in with the local charity who had been supporting him. They were helping him with his residency application, and he would soon be eligible for a pension from the UK which would bring in much needed stability.

However, that wouldn’t pay the medical bills for the cancer treatment which he is close to finishing. The BBF has decided to provide the funds for the medicine and treatment whilst the other charity will help with the residency so he can finally access health care.

If you would like to help him and many like him with a donation please visit www.britishbenevolentfund.o rg. Thank you on behalf of the many. Olaf Clayton Chair, BBF