Driving with a Visual
Impairment
Mark
E. Wilkinson, O.D.
Director,
Vision Rehabilitation Service
UIHC
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Almost daily, individuals with
visual impairments confront eye care professionals with questions concerning
operating a motor vehicle. These individuals fall into three categories:
- Teenagers with congenital or acquired visual impairment
- Adults with congenital or acquired visual impairment who have
never driven
- Adults with acquired visual impairment who will become
non-drivers because of decreased visual acuity
Visual Field/Visual Acuity Standards for Driving
Illlinois | Iowa | Missouri | Minnesota | Nebraska | South Dakota | Wisconsin | Additional Information
Illinois
Visual Acuity:
(in at least
one eye) |
Restrictions (if any) |
> 20/40 |
No restrictions |
20/41 - 20/70 |
No driving when headlights are
required |
20/71 - 20/100 |
Bioptic telescope required
unless living in a town with a population of 3000 or less
- Must achieve 20/40 or
better with no more than a 3x telescope
- Requires a vision
specialist statement indicating the individual has had the telescope a
minimum of 60 days and has been trained to use the telescope when driving
- Requires a behind the
wheel test
- Must be approved by a
medical review board
- No driving when
headlights are required without a special review
|
< 20/100 |
License denied |
| Visual Field: |
Restrictions (if any) |
> 140 degrees binocular or monocular |
No restrictions |
139 - 105 degrees binocular with at least one eye having a monocular field
of at least 70 degrees temporal and 35 degrees nasal |
Vehicle must have left and
right outside mirrors |
< 105 binocular or monocular field |
License denied |
Illinois uses a vision standard
for driving. This standard states that it is the individual's legal
responsibility to notify the Illinois Secretary of State's office within 10 days
of becoming aware that they have reduced visual acuity or visual field
limitations that may disqualify them from further driving.
For additional information or to
print a copy of the driving form: www.sos.state.il.us/departments/drivers/drivers_license/medical_vision.html
Iowa
Visual Acuity:
(in at least
one eye) |
Restrictions (if any) |
> 20/40 |
No restrictions |
20/41 - 20/50 |
No driving when headlights are
required |
20/51 - 20/70 |
No driving when headlights are
required Maximum speed 35 mph |
20/71 - 20/200 |
Discretionary issuance
- Requires a vision
specialist statement indicating the individual is visually competent to drive
- Requires a behind the
wheel test
- If VA < 20/100, must
also be approved by a medical review board
- Can also be used to gain
driving privileges at higher rates of speed than noted above and/or driving
when headlights are required privileges
|
< 20/200 |
License denied |
Bioptic Telescopes: Not
allowed to achieve the visual acuity standards noted above
| Visual Field: |
Restrictions (if any) |
> 140 degrees binocular or monocular |
No restrictions |
139 -115 degrees binocular AND one eye has a monocular field of at
least 70 degrees temporal and 45 degrees nasal |
Vehicle must have left and
right outside mirrors |
95 - 114 degrees binocular AND one eye has a monocular field of at
least 60 degrees temporal and 35 degrees nasal |
Discretionary issuance
- Requires a vision specialist
statement indicating the individual is visually competent to drive
- Requires a behind the
wheel test
|
< 95 degrees binocular OR if neither eye has a monocular field of
at least 60 degrees temporal and 35 degrees nasal |
Discretionary issuance
- Requires a vision
specialist statement indicating the individual is visually competent to drive
- Requires a behind the
wheel test
- Must also be approved by
a medical review board
|
Iowa uses a vision standard for
licensure. This standard states that the individual is legally qualified to
drive, until their license comes up for renewal, regardless of whether their
visual acuity or visual field becomes impaired during the interval between
licensing renewal. Although individuals with acquired visual impairments are
legally qualified to drive until their license is up for renewal, civil
liability exposure exists, if they continue to drive with the knowledge that
they would no longer visually qualify to drive, if they attempted to renew their
license. If the Iowa Department of Transportation becomes aware that a person
has experienced a decrease in their visual acuity or visual field, the DOT will
arrange for a re-evaluation to see if the person is capable of continuing to
safely operate a motor vehicle.
For additional information:
http://www.iamvd.com/ods/index.htm
To print a copy of the driving
form: http://www.iadotforms.dot.state.ia.us/iowadotforms/library.aspx
Missouri
Visual Acuity:
(in at least
one eye) |
Restrictions (if any) |
> 20/40 |
No restrictions |
20/41 - 20/160 |
Discretionary issuance |
< 20/160 |
License denied |
Bioptic Telescopes: Not
allowed to achieve the visual acuity standards noted above
| Visual Field: |
Restrictions (if any) |
>55 degrees in each eye or 85 degrees monocular |
No restrictions |
70 - 109 degrees binocular or monocular |
Discretionary issuance |
<70 degrees binocular or monocular |
License denied |
Missouri uses a vision standard
for licensure. This standard states that the individual is legally qualified
to drive, until their license comes up for renewal, regardless of whether their
visual acuity or visual field becomes impaired during the interval between
licensing renewal. Although individuals with acquired visual impairments are
legally qualified to drive until their license is up for renewal, civil liability
exposure exists, if they continue to drive with the knowledge that they would
no longer visually qualify to drive, if they attempted to renew their license.
If the Missouri Motor Vehicle Department becomes aware that a person has
experienced a decrease in their visual acuity or visual field, the DOT will
arrange for a re-evaluation to see if the person is capable of continuing to
safely operate a motor vehicle.
For additional information: http://www.dor.mo.gov/mvdl/drivers/dlguide/
To print a copy of the driving
form: http://www.dor.mo.gov/mvdl/drivers/forms/
Minnesota
Visual Acuity:
(in at least
one eye) |
Restrictions (if any) |
> 20/40 |
No restrictions |
20/41 - 20/70 |
Speed restrictions
May also have time of day and
radius from home restrictions |
20/71 - 20/99 |
Discretionary issuance
Requires a vision
specialist statement indicating the individual is visually competent to drive
Requires a behind the
wheel test
May have speed, time of
day and radius from home restrictions |
< 20/100 |
License denied |
Bioptic Telescopes: Not
allowed to achieve the visual acuity standards noted above
| Visual Field: |
Restrictions (if any) |
> 105 degrees binocular or monocular |
No restrictions |
< 105 degrees binocular or monocular |
Discretionary issuance vehicle may require left and right outside mirrors, in addition to speed,
radius from home and time of day restrictions |
Minnesota uses a vision standard
for driving. This standard states that it is the individual's legal
responsibility to notify the Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services office when
they becoming aware that they have reduced visual acuity or visual field
limitations that may disqualify them from further driving.
For additional information: http://www.dps.state.mn.us/dvs/index.html
To print a copy of the driving
form: http://www.dps.state.mn.us/dvs/PDFForms/DVSFormFrame.htm
Nebraska
Visual Acuity:
(in at least
one eye) |
Restrictions (if any) |
> 20/40 |
No restrictions |
20/41 - 20/60 |
No driving when headlights are
required |
20/60 - 20/70 |
If blind in fellow eye,
license will be denied |
20/70 |
No driving when headlights are
required and speed limitations |
< 20/71 |
License denied |
Bioptic Telescopes: Are
allowed to achieve the visual acuity standards noted above
| Visual Field: |
Restrictions (if any) |
> 140 degrees |
No restrictions |
139 - 120 degrees |
Vehicle must have left and
right outside mirrors |
100 119 degrees |
No driving when headlights are
required
Radius from home and speed
limitations |
< 100 degrees |
License denied |
Nebraska uses a vision standard
for licensure. This standard states that the individual is legally qualified
to drive, until their license comes up for renewal, regardless of whether their
visual acuity or visual field becomes impaired during the interval between
licensing renewal. Although individuals with acquired visual impairments are
legally qualified to drive until their license is up for renewal, civil
liability exposure exists, if they continue to drive with the knowledge that
they would no longer visually qualify to drive, if they attempted to renew
their license. If the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicle becomes aware that
a person has experienced a decrease in their visual acuity or visual field, the
DOT will arrange for a re-evaluation to see if the person is capable of
continuing to safely operate a motor vehicle.
For additional information: http://www.dmv.state.ne.us/examining
To print a copy of the driving
form: http://www.dmv.state.ne.us/examining/forms#vision
South Dakota
Visual Acuity:
(in at least
one eye) |
Restrictions (if any) |
> 20/40 |
No restrictions if fellow eye
is at least 20/50
If fellow eye less than 20/60,
left and right outside mirrors required |
20/41 - 20/60 |
Discretionary issuance
- Requires a vision
specialist statement indicating the individual is visually competent to drive
- May result in speed,
time of day and radius from home restrictions
|
< 20/60 |
License denied |
Bioptic Telescopes: Not
allowed to achieve the visual acuity standards noted above
Visual Field:
South Dakota uses a vision
standard for licensure. This standard states that the individual is legally
qualified to drive, until their license comes up for renewal, regardless of
whether their visual acuity or visual field becomes impaired during the
interval between licensing renewal. Although individuals with acquired visual
impairments are legally qualified to drive until their license is up for
renewal, civil liability exposure exists, if they continue to drive with the
knowledge that they would no longer visually qualify to drive, if they
attempted to renew their license. If the South Dakota Department of Public
Safety becomes aware that a person has experienced a decrease in their visual
acuity or visual field, the DOT will arrange for a re-evaluation to see if the
person is capable of continuing to safely operate a motor vehicle.
For additional information or to
print a copy of the driving form: http://www.state.sd.us/dps/dl/Applications/main.asp
Wisconsin
Visual Acuity:
(in at least
one eye) |
Restrictions (if any) |
> 20/40 |
No restrictions |
20/41 - 20/100 |
Discretionary issuance
- Requires a vision
specialist statement of visual acuity
- May require a behind the
wheel test
- May result in speed,
time of day and radius from home restrictions
|
< 20/100 |
License denied |
Bioptic Telescopes: Not
allowed to achieve the visual acuity standards noted above
| Visual Field: |
Restrictions (if any) |
> 140 degrees binocular |
No restrictions |
139 - 40 degrees binocular/monocular |
Discretionary issuance
- Requires a vision
specialist statement of visual field
- May require a behind the
wheel test
- May result in speed,
time of day and radius from home restrictions
|
< 40 degrees binocular/monocular |
License denied |
Wisconsin uses a vision standard
for licensure. This standard states that the individual is legally qualified
to drive, until their license comes up for renewal, regardless of whether their
visual acuity or visual field becomes impaired during the interval between
licensing renewal. Although individuals with acquired visual impairments are
legally qualified to drive until their license is up for renewal, civil
liability exposure exists, if they continue to drive with the knowledge that
they would no longer visually qualify to drive, if they attempted to renew
their license. If the Wisconsin Department of Transportation becomes aware
that a person has experienced a decrease in their visual acuity or visual
field, the DOT will arrange for a re-evaluation to see if the person is capable
of continuing to safely operate a motor vehicle.
For additional information or to
print a copy of the driving form: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/drivers/apply/vision.htm
Additional Information
- The DOT does make
accommodations for the functionally illiterate. An auditory, computer
generated voice, test can be provided or the individual can bring someone with
them to read the test.
- As part of the author's work
up, we ask the following questions. Do you drive? If yes, what type of
driving do you do? Do problems with your sight cause you to be fearful when
you are driving? During the past 6 months, have you made any driving errors?
Is your driving ability affected by your vision?
- For individuals that are
visually impaired who wish to be licensed or to have the privileges of his or
her license expanded, a letter from a vision specialist is required and must
state "it is my professional opinion that (patient name) has the visual
ability to operate a motor vehicle". The author would also recommend that
the letter state "I am requesting that a hearing officer provide (patient
name) with a behind the wheel evaluation to see if he/she can acquire/maintain
the privilege of operating a motor vehicle".
- A letter can replace the
Vision Specialist Form 430032 (Iowa) if all of the information from the
departmental vision form is included. This information includes:
- The patient's full name and address
- Visual acuity OD, OS, and OU, both uncorrected, corrected, and
with new prescription when appropriate.
- The visual fields for the right and left eye measure nasally and
temporally.
- A statement concerning whether the eye specialist feels the
individual is visually competent to drive
- A statement concerning privileges, whether they be general,
daylight only, or limited
- If limited, the amount of limitations
- Should vision be rechecked sooner than 2 years
- The date of the examination, which needs to be within 30 days of
the individual's attempt to be licensed or re-licensed.
- The Iowa DOT does allows eye
care practitioners (MD, DO and OD) to report to the department the identity of
a person who has a physical or mental condition which may render that person
incompetent to operate a motor vehicle safely. The physician is to make
reasonable efforts to notify the person in writing of the nature and reason for
the report to the DOT. The physician has no duty to make a report or to warn
third parties. The reporting physician is immune from any liabilities, civil
or criminal, which may otherwise be incurred or imposed as a result of the report.
- The author feels it is
important for the practitioner to counsel those individuals, whose vision has
decreased significantly from the time they were licensed, about their increased
potential for personal liability if they are involved in an accident. For
those individuals whose vision changes after they are licensed, the author
would recommend that they be re-evaluated by the DOT to see if they are still
capable of continue to safely operate a motor vehicle.
