U.S. Department Federal Highway Administration Visual ...

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration

Visual Disorders and Commercial Drivers

Office of Motor Carriers Washington, D.C. 20590 FHWA-MC-92-003 HCS-1 O/l -92(200)E

November 1991

The United States Government does not endorse the products

Technical Report Documentation Page

DTFH61-90-C-00093 4. Title and Subtitle

Visual Disorders and Commercial Drivers

7. A"'hozs' Lawrence E. Decina, Michael E. Breton, Ph.D.* and

Loren Staplin, Ph.D. 9. Performing Organization Name and Address

10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)

KETRON Division of The Bionetics Corporation Great Valley Corporate Center

#5590 I I. Contract or Grant No.

350 Technology Drive Malvern, PA 19355-1370 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

Office of Motor Carriers

DTFH61-90-C-00093 13. Type of Report and Period Covered

Final Report

Federal Highway Administration U.S. Department of Transportation

14. Spoonsoring Agency Cod.

Washington, DC 20590

15. *S"ppl.m.ntor~ Notes

Vision Consultant, Assistant Professor, Scheie Eye Institute

FHWA Contracting Officer's Technical Representatives:

Ms. Eliane Viner and Mr. Richard Schwab 16. Abstract

The objectives of the project were to reassess the adequacy of the current Federal vision standards for CMV operators (49, CFR, 391.41(b)(10),1985). The technical approach included doing a critical review of

existing literature; providing a preliminary draft of recommendations; preparing a risk assessment of

visual criterion levels proposed; conducting a workshop to review draft recommendations with expert in-

dustry and vision panelists; and providing a summary of the project with final recommendations.

A review and critical evaluation of the most significant scientific research, which investigated the vision performance of passenger and commercial drivers, revealed no conclusive evidence to support definitive changes to the current standard. However, it was deemed important to include visual acuity and visual fields, requirements for the standard. Based on the critical review of the literature, opinion surveys, and workshop results collected from panelists representing the vision industry field, the following recommendations were made: distant visual acuity of at least 20/40 in each eye without corrective lenses or Visual acuity separately corrected to 20/40 or better with corrective lenses, distant binocular acuity of at least 20/40 in both eyes with or without corrective lenses, field of vision of at least 120 degrees in each eye measured separately in the horizontal meridian, and the ability to respond safely and effectively to colors of traffic signals and devices showing standard red, green, and amber. NO test for color vision is required. The instructions to perform and record the visual examination were extensively re-

vised. Identification of the type of equipment, the stimuli needed to conduct the testing, and instructions on how to perform the tests were added. The full description of the definition and testing procedures Of the standard is provided in the body of the report. In addition, revisions were made to the list Of visual disorders and impairments to be noted on the exam form.

17. Key Words

18. Distribution Statement

visual standards

vision screening

No restriction. This document is available to the

commercial motor vehicle operators

public through the National Technical Information

visual acuity

visual disorders

Service, Springfield, VA 22161

visual fields

color vision

vision and driving performance 9. Security Classif. (0` thi. r..or*)

x). S.Nrit* Cl..,i(. (of ,hi, pap.)

21. No. 0` Pop.1 22. Pric.

Unclassified -

Form DOT F 17W.I (8-721

Unclassified

131

Reproduction of completed page authorized

PREFACE

This project investigated the adequacy of the current Federal vision standard for operators of commercial motor vehicles.

The authors wish to thank the vision and industry specialists who participated in the Delphi assignments and workshop:

Merrill J. Allen, O.D., Ph.D. Indiana University, School of Optometry

Clifford Anderson MRS Diagnostics, Inc.

Karlene Ball, Ph.D. Department of Psychology Western Kentucky University Bernard R. Blais, M.D. Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory General Electric Corp.

Raymond P. Briggs, Ph.D. Perceptual Safety and Systems Research

Neill Darmstadter American Trucking Associations

Chris A. Johnson, Ph.D. Department of Ophthalmology School of Medicine University of California

Arthur H. Keeney, M.D., S.Sc. Kentucky Lions Eye Research Institute University of Louisville

A. James McKnight Ph.D. National Public Services Research Institute

Cynthia Owsley, Ph.D. Department of Ophthalmology School of Medicine University of Alabama at Birmingham

Sandra Z. Salan, M.D. Office of Medical Evaluation Branch Chief

Neurology and Special Senses OD/OME SSA

Frank Schieber, Ph.D. Oakland University

The authors also wish to express their appreciation to CA.S.E.T. Associates for recording the workshop and providing transcripts of the day's discussions.

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