Effective March 22nd of 2022, new rules have been created regarding the vision for commercial drivers who experience vision difficulty or loss of vision in one eye. Previously, these drivers could file for exemptions individually, but the new rules going into effect in March now apply across the board in the form of the alternative vision standard.w]
What Has Changed?
Under the new alternative vision standard, drivers who cannot achieve the distant visual acuity standard with corrective lenses must see an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Afterward, a Department of Transportation (DOT) medical examiner must evaluate the driver to determine the level of disability in the affected eye. If qualified by DOT officials, a certificate will be issued that must be renewed annually. This certificate allows commercial drivers to operate on interstate roadways just as before.
The New Alternative Standard
According to the new alternative standard for commercial drivers, the following applies:
- Drivers must have at least 20/40 vision in one eye with or without corrective lenses
- Colors must be recognizable as they relate to standard traffic light colors, including red, green, and amber
- The vision deficiency must be stable and not subject to fluctuations during the day or night
- If a change instability has occurred, enough time must have passed for vision to stabilize
Commercial truck drivers who can meet the new alternative vision standard will drive just like any other driver, but they must keep the issued certificate current.
Exemption From Road Testing
One particularly interesting facet of the new alternative vision standard is that it allows drivers who have poor or no vision in one eye to become exempt from road testing if the driver has already logged at least three years on the road with the vision deficiency. Other exemptions from this requirement include holding a federal waiver or being previously exempted from the waiver study program that preceded the alternative vision standard.
Click here to learn more about the new alternative vision standard and its guidelines.
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