A survey of the visual acuity of Brisbane drivers.
OBJECTIVE
To conduct a survey of the visual acuity of a group of Brisbane Drivers.


METHODS
The outpatient department of the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane.


METHODS
Five hundred and three subjects drawn from patients, visitors and staff attending the outpatient department on 10 working days from December 5 to December 16, 1988.


METHODS
Subjects' age, driver's licence details and driving history were gathered by questionnaire. Visual acuity was assessed with the aid of a Snellen chart.


RESULTS
Nearly 6% of the survey group had visual acuity worse than 6/12; 15% had never had their eyes tested other than for licensing purposes; 21% stated that their last ophthalmic or optometric examination was more than five years previously; and 8% failed to meet the Queensland visual acuity requirements for their class of licence.


CONCLUSIONS
The monocular driver is not detected by current licence testing procedures in Queensland. Many licence holders do not meet the present visual acuity criteria of the Queensland Department of Transport.
McConnell
R A
RA
Repatriation General Hospital Greenslopes.
Spall
A D
AD
Hirst
L W
LW
Williams
G
G
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001333:Automobile Driver Examination / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001334:Automobile Driving; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011793:Queensland; D012494:Sampling Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014787:Vision Tests; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology