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