SIGHT TESTS FOR MOTOR DRIVERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 March 1920, Page 12

SIGHT TESTS FOR MOTOR DRIVERS.

EXPERTS' DEMAND FOR REFORM. The Council of British Ophthalmologists has issued a report "on the visual requirements of persons licensed to drive mechanically-propelled vehicles en public roads." The report is divided into five parts- In the first, er/isthig conditions arc considered, and it is pointed out thai; "the only qualifications required for ostainin'g a licence to drive a motor vehicle other than a public conveyance is that the applicant must he 17 years of age, and it is a fact that a blind man has obtained a licence." The number of accidents which occur annually by mechanically-propelled vehicles in London is very largo. In 1010 there were 05-i fatal accidents and 14,502 non-fatal ones; in 1017 the figures were 535 and 11,551 respectively, the diminution being due in some respects to the reduction in the number of vehicles plying the streets. The types of visual defect mot with varv from loss of one eye to restricted fields of vision and squint. It is contended that the visual requirements are not the same for each type of vehicle. Examinations of varying severity are therefore required.,but it is laid down that "no person who from any cause has double vision should be granted a license,.'' Ti is proposed (o grant three types of certificates, A. B. and C, and the following amon<? oilier recommendations are made: 1. That before a licence is granted by a county of borough council to an applicant to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle along the public roads such applicant be required'to show his ability to steer a motor-ear round corners and to avoid obstacles. :'.. That before snch a licence be renewed the applicant he required to sign a. statement that since the license was granted he has not suffered from any physical disability likely to interfere with his driving capacity. .1 That if a licensed driver who suffers from some visual defect meet with an accident attributable in any way to that defect, he shall be liable to have his licence taken from him, or endorsed, as may be considered desirable in accordance with the circumstances of the case. 4. That, special sight test, certificates for drivers of motor vehicles bo instituted, and granted to applicants jyhose sight has been tested by ophthalmic .surgeons appointed for the purpose, those certificates to be of three grades! Grade A, certifying the holder's visual capacity to drive any kind of motor vehicle. Grade B. certifying the holder's visual capacity to drive any kind of motor vehicle other than a motor-omnibus or tramcar. ' Grade C, certifying the holder's visual capacity to drive a motor-tramcar. Among the provisions for these certificates are:— Every applicant for Grades A and B, in addition to manifesting his ability to steer a motor-car satisfactorily in daylight, should be required, in, a trial trip at night, to show himself capable of driving in dim light and under varying degrees of illumination. Every for Grade C should be required in a trial trip to show himselfcapable of driving a motor-tramcar by day and by night under varying degrees of illumination. 5. That an applicant for a license to drive a mechanically propelled hackney carriage be required to obtain the appropriate sight test certificate before such licence be granted. An applicant for a renewal of licence to drive a hackney motor-cab who is an experienced driver might, however, he granted such a renewal with a lower standard of central acuity of vision. fi. That owners of mechanically propelled vehicles, other than hackney carriages, be strongly advised to employ as drivers only those who have obtained a Grade A or Grade B certificate. 7. That temporary permits be granted to those learning to drive mechanically propelled vehicles. When driving motorjars along the public road, the holders of sue!: permits must be accompanied by a licensed driver.