Motorist vision policy.
BACKGROUND
The primary purpose of public policy requiring vision testing for driver license renewal is to identify individuals with functional vision impairments and, when necessary, to restrict their driving. This is based on the presumption that poor vision is causally related to poor driving and traffic crashes.


METHODS
The AOA Environmental and Occupational Vision Committee performed a synthesis of relevant empirical literature on policy-based research and developed potential options for enhancing traffic safety.


RESULTS
Presently, some states require vision testing for driver's license renewal and some do not. Regional and nationwide studies report that vision-related license renewal policies are associated with enhanced traffic safety. However, contemporary vision screening tests may be of limited value in identifying individuals with functional vision impairments.


CONCLUSIONS
The most cost-effective and valid method for identifying, treating and counseling visually impaired drivers is to require a comprehensive eye examination as a condition for driver license renewal for those with a high prevalence or high probability of vision impairment.
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, 35294-0010, USA.
M D
MD
Shipp
K M
KM
Daum
J L
JL
Weaver
V B
VB
Nakagawara
I L
IL
Bailey
G W
GW
Good
M B
MB
Maizel
W L
WL
Park
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001333:Automobile Driver Examination; D001334:Automobile Driving; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D009907:Optometry / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000592:standards*; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*