| As a minimum legal requirement to ensure safe driving, | | | | pair of glasses. Glasses and contact lenses should be |
| drivers should display visual acuity of 20/40 with or | | | | kept scrupulously clean to ensure a clear field of vision. |
| without corrective lenses. Restrictions generally apply | | | | * Wearers of contact lenses, and sufferers from hay |
| to those with acuity between 20/41 and 20/70, limiting | | | | fever, should also keep a spare pair of glasses in the |
| them to driving in daylight hours only. | | | | auto. Switching to a pair of glasses when travelling long |
| A 120 degree wide field of view is the minimum legal | | | | distances offers some respite for tired, watery eyes. |
| requirement for peripheral vision in order to qualify for | | | | * If you need to wear prescription glasses to drive, |
| a license without restrictions (in some states the | | | | never replace them with non-prescription sunglasses. It |
| threshold is higher at 140 degrees). This is with or | | | | is illegal and does not make for safe driving. Instead, |
| without corrective lenses. | | | | buy a pair of prescription sunglasses, or use clip-on |
| If you are a wearer of telescopic lenses, a useful | | | | lenses over your prescription lenses. A cautionary note: |
| driving aid for sufferers of diminished visual acuity | | | | You should make sure that your clip-on lenses are |
| whose peripheral vision remains virtually intact, you will | | | | suitable for plastic lenses. |
| be subject to special requirements and additional | | | | * In adverse weather conditions where visability is |
| testing. | | | | poor, such as heavy rain or snow, never wear tinted |
| Telescopic lens wearers must include the ability to | | | | glasses. This rule is equally applicable to tinted |
| locate stationary and moving objects within the | | | | motorbike helmets. |
| telescopic field, and the ability to adjust successfully to | | | | Safe driving also means "vision care" or essential |
| changes in light levels, especially during inclement | | | | checks for your auto. Don't restrict your view by |
| weather. Excessive contrast and glare sensitivity also | | | | putting non-essential stickers on the windows of your |
| compromises safe driving. | | | | vehicle, or hanging objects such as dolls or dice where |
| As a responsible driver, then, you should be aware of | | | | they might prove a distraction. |
| breaking the law if you fail to meet these visual | | | | Keep your windscreen clean and free from scratches, |
| standards every time you switch on your engine. In | | | | and your lights adjusted to provide good illumination |
| particular, if you do need to wear corrective lenses to | | | | without causing glare. Protect your eyes from the |
| meet the driving visual standard, it is vital you wear | | | | glare of other vehicles by looking slightly to the left of |
| them at all times. It is a good idea to keep a spare pair | | | | oncoming traffic at night. Temporary blindness caused |
| of glasses in the auto so that you are never tempted | | | | by glare can be particularly dangerous. |
| to drive illegally without them. | | | | Safe driving means showing continuing responsibility. |
| Let's now look more closely at drivers' eyewaer as | | | | As we have seen, restrictions can apply to drivers |
| this aspect of vision care contributes significantly to | | | | where vision is impaired from cataracts, glaucoma, |
| safe driving. Here are some important guidelines: | | | | diabetes or any other relevant medical conditions |
| * The current fashion is for narrower, thin-rimmed or | | | | which constitute a notifiable disability. |
| rimless glasses. These are ideal for driving as they | | | | There are two key points to note here. First, if you are |
| allow maximum peripheral vision (They are not so | | | | involved in an accident and are subsequently found to |
| good, however, for cutting out the glare of reflected | | | | have an undeclared visual impairment, your insurance |
| ultraviolet rays from snow and sand). | | | | cover could be at risk. |
| * At a reasonable cost, anti-reflective coatings can be | | | | Secondly, and more reassuringly, having a notifiable |
| applied to any lenses helping to reduce glare and | | | | visual impairment does not automatically preclude your |
| enhance nighttime vision. | | | | being allowed to drive. Limited-period licenses, issued to |
| * Glasses with plastic lenses are safer and lighter. A | | | | keep a regular check on your condition, and licenses |
| plastic bridge helps cushion the nose if wearing metal | | | | restricting driving to daytime only, should be viewed as |
| frames. | | | | the ultimate safeguard of both vision care and safe |
| * Keep a lens cloth in your auto along with your spare | | | | driving. |