Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision, 5425-5427 [2011-2091]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2011 / Notices industry, shipping industry, safety advocates, labor, and safety enforcement officials. Representatives of a single enumerated interest group may not constitute a majority of the Committee members. The Administrator designates a chairman of the Committee from among the members. Committee members must not be officers or employees of the Federal Government and serve without pay. The Administrator may allow a member, when attending meetings of the Committee or a subcommittee, reimbursement of expenses authorized under Section 5703 of Title 5, United States Code and the Federal Travel Regulation, 41 CFR part 301, relating to per diem, travel, and transportation. The President’s Memorandum of June 18, 2010, concerning lobbyists on Agency boards and commissions (75 FR 35995, 6/23/10) directed the heads of Executive departments and agencies ‘‘not to make any new appointments or reappointments of federally registered lobbyists to advisory committees and other boards and commissions.’’ Pursuant to the President’s directive, FMCSA will not consider for appointment to the MCSAC any individual who is subject to the registration and reporting requirements of the Lobbying Disclosure Act (2 U.S.C. 1605). The Designated Federal Officer anticipates calling Committee meetings approximately four times each year. Meetings are open to the general public, except as provided under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App.). Notice of each meeting is published in the Federal Register at least 15 calendar days prior to the date of the meeting. jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES II. Request for Nominations The FMCSA seeks nominations for membership to the MCSAC from among its stakeholder groups for representatives with specialized experience, education, or training in commercial motor vehicle safety issues. The Agency is required under FACA to appoint members of diverse views and interests to ensure the committee is balanced with appropriate consideration of background. All Committee members must be able to attend at least three to four meetings each year in person or by teleconference. Interested persons should have a commitment to transportation safety, knowledge of transportation issues, experience on panels that deal with transportation safety, and a record of collaboration and professional experience in commercial motor vehicle safety issues. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:38 Jan 28, 2011 Jkt 223001 On-line applications will be accepted for positions on the MCSAC. Applications may be obtained from the MCSAC Web site at https:// mcsac.fmcsa.dot.gov/, completed online, and e-mailed to Shannon L. Watson, MCSAC liaison, at Shannon.Watson@dot.gov. The Web site contains additional information on the MCSAC, including reports, meeting minutes, and membership information. Nominations must be received on or before March 2, 2011. Issued on: January 21, 2011. Anne S. Ferro, Administrator. [FR Doc. 2011–2104 Filed 1–28–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Docket No. FMCSA–2010–0385] Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of final disposition. AGENCY: FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 24 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). The exemptions will enable these individuals to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce without meeting the prescribed vision standard. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemptions will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these CMV drivers. DATES: The exemptions are effective January 31, 2011. The exemptions expire on January 31, 2013. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Mary D. Gunnels, Director, Medical Programs, (202)–366–4001, fmcsamedical@dot.gov, FMCSA, Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W64– 224, Washington, DC 20590–0001. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Electronic Access You may see all the comments online through the Federal Document Management System (FDMS) at https:// www.regulations.gov. PO 00000 Frm 00098 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 5425 Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments, go to https:// www.regulations.gov at any time or Room W12–140 on the ground level of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The FDMS is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. If you want acknowledgment that we received your comments, please include a selfaddressed, stamped envelope or postcard or print the acknowledgement page that appears after submitting comments on-line. Privacy Act: Anyone may search the electronic form of all comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or of the person signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT’s Privacy Act Statement for the FDMS published in the Federal Register on January 17, 2008 (73 FR 3316), or you may visit https://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/ E8–785.pdf. Background On December 14, 2010, FMCSA published a notice of receipt of exemption applications from certain individuals, and requested comments from the public (75 FR 77942). That notice listed 24 applicants’ case histories. The 24 individuals applied for exemptions from the vision requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10), for drivers who operate CMVs in interstate commerce. Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA may grant an exemption for a 2year period if it finds ‘‘such exemption would likely achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption.’’ The statute also allows the Agency to renew exemptions at the end of the 2-year period. Accordingly, FMCSA has evaluated the 24 applications on their merits and made a determination to grant exemptions to each of them. Vision and Driving Experience of the Applicants The vision requirement in the FMCSRs provides: A person is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if that person has distant visual acuity of at least 20/40 (Snellen) in each eye without corrective lenses or visual acuity separately corrected to 20/40 (Snellen) or better with corrective lenses, distant binocular acuity of a least 20/40 (Snellen) in both eyes with or E:\FR\FM\31JAN1.SGM 31JAN1 jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES 5426 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2011 / Notices without corrective lenses, field of vision of at least 70° in the horizontal meridian in each eye, and the ability to recognize the colors of traffic signals and devices showing standard red, green, and amber (49 CFR 391.41(b)(10)). FMCSA recognizes that some drivers do not meet the vision standard, but have adapted their driving to accommodate their vision limitation and demonstrated their ability to drive safely. The 24 exemption applicants listed in this notice are in this category. They are unable to meet the vision standard in one eye for various reasons, including amblyopia, complete loss of vision, retinal detachment, macular degeneration, aphakia, corneal scarring, traumatic neuropathy, optic neuropathy, macular scarring, displaced pupil, and prosthesis. In most cases, their eye conditions were not recently developed. 17 of the applicants were either born with their vision impairments or have had them since childhood. The 7 individuals who sustained their vision conditions as adults have had them for periods ranging from 9 to 45 years. Although each applicant has one eye which does not meet the vision standard in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10), each has at least 20/40 corrected vision in the other eye, and in a doctor’s opinion, has sufficient vision to perform all the tasks necessary to operate a CMV. Doctors’ opinions are supported by the applicants’ possession of valid commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) or non-CDLs to operate CMVs. Before issuing CDLs, States subject drivers to knowledge and skills tests designed to evaluate their qualifications to operate a CMV. All of these applicants satisfied the testing standards for their State of residence. By meeting State licensing requirements, the applicants demonstrated their ability to operate a commercial vehicle, with their limited vision, to the satisfaction of the State. While possessing a valid CDL or nonCDL, these 24 drivers have been authorized to drive a CMV in intrastate commerce, even though their vision disqualified them from driving in interstate commerce. They have driven CMVs with their limited vision for careers ranging from 31⁄2 to 50 years. In the past 3 years, 6 of the drivers were involved in crashes or convicted of moving violations in a CMV. The qualifications, experience, and medical condition of each applicant were stated and discussed in detail in the December 14, 2010 notice (75 FR 77942). VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:04 Jan 28, 2011 Jkt 223001 Basis for Exemption Determination Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA may grant an exemption from the vision standard in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) if the exemption is likely to achieve an equivalent or greater level of safety than would be achieved without the exemption. Without the exemption, applicants will continue to be restricted to intrastate driving. With the exemption, applicants can drive in interstate commerce. Thus, our analysis focuses on whether an equal or greater level of safety is likely to be achieved by permitting each of these drivers to drive in interstate commerce as opposed to restricting him or her to driving in intrastate commerce. To evaluate the effect of these exemptions on safety, FMCSA considered not only the medical reports about the applicants’ vision, but also their driving records and experience with the vision deficiency. To qualify for an exemption from the vision standard, FMCSA requires a person to present verifiable evidence that he/she has driven a commercial vehicle safely with the vision deficiency for the past 3 years. Recent driving performance is especially important in evaluating future safety, according to several research studies designed to correlate past and future driving performance. Results of these studies support the principle that the best predictor of future performance by a driver is his/her past record of crashes and traffic violations. Copies of the studies may be found at Docket Number FMCSA–1998–3637. We believe we can properly apply the principle to monocular drivers, because data from the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) former waiver study program clearly demonstrate the driving performance of experienced monocular drivers in the program is better than that of all CMV drivers collectively (See 61 FR 13338, 13345, March 26, 1996). The fact that experienced monocular drivers demonstrated safe driving records in the waiver program supports a conclusion that other monocular drivers, meeting the same qualifying conditions as those required by the waiver program, are also likely to have adapted to their vision deficiency and will continue to operate safely. The first major research correlating past and future performance was done in England by Greenwood and Yule in 1920. Subsequent studies, building on that model, concluded that crash rates for the same individual exposed to certain risks for two different time periods vary only slightly (See Bates PO 00000 Frm 00099 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 and Neyman, University of California Publications in Statistics, April 1952). Other studies demonstrated theories of predicting crash proneness from crash history coupled with other factors. These factors—such as age, sex, geographic location, mileage driven and conviction history—are used every day by insurance companies and motor vehicle bureaus to predict the probability of an individual experiencing future crashes (See Weber, Donald C., ‘‘Accident Rate Potential: An Application of Multiple Regression Analysis of a Poisson Process,’’ Journal of American Statistical Association, June 1971). A 1964 California Driver Record Study prepared by the California Department of Motor Vehicles concluded that the best overall crash predictor for both concurrent and nonconcurrent events is the number of single convictions. This study used 3 consecutive years of data, comparing the experiences of drivers in the first 2 years with their experiences in the final year. Applying principles from these studies to the past 3-year record of the 24 applicants, four of the applicants were convicted for a moving violation and three of the applicants were involved in a crash. All the applicants achieved a record of safety while driving with their vision impairment, demonstrating the likelihood that they have adapted their driving skills to accommodate their condition. As the applicants’ ample driving histories with their vision deficiencies are good predictors of future performance, FMCSA concludes their ability to drive safely can be projected into the future. We believe that the applicants’ intrastate driving experience and history provide an adequate basis for predicting their ability to drive safely in interstate commerce. Intrastate driving, like interstate operations, involves substantial driving on highways on the interstate system and on other roads built to interstate standards. Moreover, driving in congested urban areas exposes the driver to more pedestrian and vehicular traffic than exists on interstate highways. Faster reaction to traffic and traffic signals is generally required because distances between them are more compact. These conditions tax visual capacity and driver response just as intensely as interstate driving conditions. The veteran drivers in this proceeding have operated CMVs safely under those conditions for at least 3 years, most for much longer. Their experience and driving records lead us to believe that each applicant is capable of operating in interstate commerce as safely as he/she has been performing in intrastate E:\FR\FM\31JAN1.SGM 31JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2011 / Notices commerce. Consequently, FMCSA finds that exempting these applicants from the vision standard in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) is likely to achieve a level of safety equal to that existing without the exemption. For this reason, the Agency is granting the exemptions for the 2-year period allowed by 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315 to the 24 applicants listed in the notice of December 14, 2010 (75 FR 77942). We recognize that the vision of an applicant may change and affect his/her ability to operate a CMV as safely as in the past. As a condition of the exemption, therefore, FMCSA will impose requirements on the 24 individuals consistent with the grandfathering provisions applied to drivers who participated in the Agency’s vision waiver program. Those requirements are found at 49 CFR 391.64(b) and include the following: (1) That each individual be physically examined every year (a) by an ophthalmologist or optometrist who attests that the vision in the better eye continues to meet the standard in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10), and (b) by a medical examiner who attests that the individual is otherwise physically qualified under 49 CFR 391.41; (2) that each individual provide a copy of the ophthalmologist’s or optometrist’s report to the medical examiner at the time of the annual medical examination; and (3) that each individual provide a copy of the annual medical certification to the employer for retention in the driver’s qualification file, or keep a copy in his/her driver’s qualification file if he/she is selfemployed. The driver must also have a copy of the certification when driving, for presentation to a duly authorized Federal, State, or local enforcement official. jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES Discussion of Comments FMCSA received one comment in this proceeding. The comment was considered and discussed below. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation stated that it was in favor of granting a Federal vision exemption to Bobby Sawyers. Conclusion Based upon its evaluation of the 24 exemption applications, FMCSA exempts, Gary S. Alvarez, Wayne D. Bost, James M. Brasher, Marcus L. Conner, Joseph L. Dahlman, Brett K. Hasty, Fredrick A. Irby, Matthew B. Lairamore, Garry D. Layton, Boynton L. Manuel, Anthony W. Miller, Wesley G. Moore, Rocky Moorhead, Gary J. Peterson, Bernard J. Phillips, Michael J. Roberts, Alvaro F. Rodriguez, Bobby W. Sawyers, Lynn R. Schraeder, John R. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:38 Jan 28, 2011 Jkt 223001 Shaver, Myron A. Smith, Ricky L. Watts, Cameron R. Whitford, and Olen L. Williams, Jr. from the vision requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10), subject to the requirements cited above (49 CFR 391.64(b)). In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, each exemption will be valid for 2 years unless revoked earlier by FMCSA. The exemption will be revoked if: (1) The person fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the exemption; (2) the exemption has resulted in a lower level of safety than was maintained before it was granted; or (3) continuation of the exemption would not be consistent with the goals and objectives of 49 U.S.C. 31136 and 31315. If the exemption is still effective at the end of the 2-year period, the person may apply to FMCSA for a renewal under procedures in effect at that time. Issued on: January 26, 2011. Larry W. Minor, Associate Administrator, Office of Policy. [FR Doc. 2011–2091 Filed 1–28–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration TIGGER and Clean Fuels Grant Program Funds Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT. ACTION: TIGGER and Clean Fuels Grant Program Announcement of Project Selections. AGENCY: The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the selection of projects funded in support of the Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) program and Clean Fuels Grant program which is enhanced with Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities program funds. This funding supports the U.S. Department of Transportation’s environmental sustainability efforts, which were announced in FTA’s notice of funding availability (NOFA) on April 13, 2010. The TIGGER program makes funds available for capital investments that will reduce the energy consumption or greenhouse gas emissions of public transportation systems. The Clean Fuels Grant program makes funds available to assist nonattainment and maintenance areas in achieving or maintaining the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and carbon monoxide and supports emerging clean fuel and advanced propulsion technologies for SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00100 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 5427 transit buses and markets for those technologies. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Successful applicants should contact the appropriate FTA Regional office (Appendix) for specific information regarding applying for the funds or proposal specific questions. For general program information on TIGGER, contact Walter Kulyk, Office of Mobility Innovation, (202) 366–4995, e-mail: walter.kulyk@dot.gov. For general program information on the Clean Fuels Grant program, contact Vanessa Williams, Office of Program Management, at (202) 366–4818, e-mail: vanessa.williams@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A total of $75 million was available for FTA’s TIGGER program and $81 million for the Clean Fuels Grant program. In response to the NOFA, FTA received a total of 274 proposals requesting over $1.4 billion in program funds. The project proposals were evaluated based on the criteria detailed in the April 13, 2010 Notice of Funding Availability. Projects funded with Clean Fuels Grant and Bus program funds are included in Table 1. Projects funded with the TIGGER program funds are included in Table 2. Grantees selected for competitive discretionary funding should work with their FTA regional office to finalize the application in FTA’s Transportation Electronic Award Management (TEAM) system, so that funds can be obligated expeditiously. Funds must be used for the purposes specified in the competitive application. Clean Fuels and Bus projects can be funded at up to 83 percent Federal share for eligible vehicle purchases. The 83 percent share is a blended figure representing 80 percent of the vehicle and 90 percent of the vehicle-related equipment to be acquired in compliance with the Clean Air Act. The 83 percent share does not apply to facilities, for which the costs are more variable. The eligibility of facility-related cost element at the 90 percent share will be reviewed for eligibility of the higher Federal share on a case-by-case basis as part of the grant application process. The FY 2010 Appropriations Act allows a 90 percent Federal share for total cost of a biodiesel bus and 90 percent Federal share for the net capital cost of factory installed hybrid electric propulsion systems and any equipment related to such a system. TIGGER projects can be funded at up to 100 percent Federal share. A discretionary project identification number has been assigned to each project for tracking purposes and must be used in the TEAM application. Selected projects have pre-award E:\FR\FM\31JAN1.SGM 31JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 20 (Monday, January 31, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5425-5427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-2091]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2010-0385]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of final disposition.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 24 individuals from the 
vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations 
(FMCSRs). The exemptions will enable these individuals to operate 
commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce without meeting 
the prescribed vision standard. The Agency has concluded that granting 
these exemptions will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to, 
or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions 
for these CMV drivers.

DATES: The exemptions are effective January 31, 2011. The exemptions 
expire on January 31, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Mary D. Gunnels, Director, Medical 
Programs, (202)-366-4001, fmcsamedical@dot.gov, FMCSA, Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W64-224, Washington, 
DC 20590-0001. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    You may see all the comments online through the Federal Document 
Management System (FDMS) at https://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments, go to https://www.regulations.gov at any time or Room W12-140 
on the ground level of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The FDMS is available 24 hours each day, 365 
days each year. If you want acknowledgment that we received your 
comments, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope or postcard 
or print the acknowledgement page that appears after submitting 
comments on-line.
    Privacy Act: Anyone may search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or of the person signing the comment, if 
submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
You may review DOT's Privacy Act Statement for the FDMS published in 
the Federal Register on January 17, 2008 (73 FR 3316), or you may visit 
https://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-785.pdf.

Background

    On December 14, 2010, FMCSA published a notice of receipt of 
exemption applications from certain individuals, and requested comments 
from the public (75 FR 77942). That notice listed 24 applicants' case 
histories. The 24 individuals applied for exemptions from the vision 
requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10), for drivers who operate CMVs in 
interstate commerce.
    Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA may grant an exemption 
for a 2-year period if it finds ``such exemption would likely achieve a 
level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that 
would be achieved absent such exemption.'' The statute also allows the 
Agency to renew exemptions at the end of the 2-year period. 
Accordingly, FMCSA has evaluated the 24 applications on their merits 
and made a determination to grant exemptions to each of them.

Vision and Driving Experience of the Applicants

    The vision requirement in the FMCSRs provides:
    A person is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor 
vehicle if that person has distant visual acuity of at least 20/40 
(Snellen) in each eye without corrective lenses or visual acuity 
separately corrected to 20/40 (Snellen) or better with corrective 
lenses, distant binocular acuity of a least 20/40 (Snellen) in both 
eyes with or

[[Page 5426]]

without corrective lenses, field of vision of at least 70[deg] in the 
horizontal meridian in each eye, and the ability to recognize the 
colors of traffic signals and devices showing standard red, green, and 
amber (49 CFR 391.41(b)(10)).
    FMCSA recognizes that some drivers do not meet the vision standard, 
but have adapted their driving to accommodate their vision limitation 
and demonstrated their ability to drive safely. The 24 exemption 
applicants listed in this notice are in this category. They are unable 
to meet the vision standard in one eye for various reasons, including 
amblyopia, complete loss of vision, retinal detachment, macular 
degeneration, aphakia, corneal scarring, traumatic neuropathy, optic 
neuropathy, macular scarring, displaced pupil, and prosthesis. In most 
cases, their eye conditions were not recently developed. 17 of the 
applicants were either born with their vision impairments or have had 
them since childhood. The 7 individuals who sustained their vision 
conditions as adults have had them for periods ranging from 9 to 45 
years.
    Although each applicant has one eye which does not meet the vision 
standard in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10), each has at least 20/40 corrected 
vision in the other eye, and in a doctor's opinion, has sufficient 
vision to perform all the tasks necessary to operate a CMV. Doctors' 
opinions are supported by the applicants' possession of valid 
commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) or non-CDLs to operate CMVs. Before 
issuing CDLs, States subject drivers to knowledge and skills tests 
designed to evaluate their qualifications to operate a CMV.
    All of these applicants satisfied the testing standards for their 
State of residence. By meeting State licensing requirements, the 
applicants demonstrated their ability to operate a commercial vehicle, 
with their limited vision, to the satisfaction of the State. While 
possessing a valid CDL or non-CDL, these 24 drivers have been 
authorized to drive a CMV in intrastate commerce, even though their 
vision disqualified them from driving in interstate commerce. They have 
driven CMVs with their limited vision for careers ranging from 3\1/2\ 
to 50 years. In the past 3 years, 6 of the drivers were involved in 
crashes or convicted of moving violations in a CMV.
    The qualifications, experience, and medical condition of each 
applicant were stated and discussed in detail in the December 14, 2010 
notice (75 FR 77942).

Basis for Exemption Determination

    Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA may grant an exemption 
from the vision standard in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) if the exemption is 
likely to achieve an equivalent or greater level of safety than would 
be achieved without the exemption. Without the exemption, applicants 
will continue to be restricted to intrastate driving. With the 
exemption, applicants can drive in interstate commerce. Thus, our 
analysis focuses on whether an equal or greater level of safety is 
likely to be achieved by permitting each of these drivers to drive in 
interstate commerce as opposed to restricting him or her to driving in 
intrastate commerce.
    To evaluate the effect of these exemptions on safety, FMCSA 
considered not only the medical reports about the applicants' vision, 
but also their driving records and experience with the vision 
deficiency.
    To qualify for an exemption from the vision standard, FMCSA 
requires a person to present verifiable evidence that he/she has driven 
a commercial vehicle safely with the vision deficiency for the past 3 
years. Recent driving performance is especially important in evaluating 
future safety, according to several research studies designed to 
correlate past and future driving performance. Results of these studies 
support the principle that the best predictor of future performance by 
a driver is his/her past record of crashes and traffic violations. 
Copies of the studies may be found at Docket Number FMCSA-1998-3637.
    We believe we can properly apply the principle to monocular 
drivers, because data from the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) 
former waiver study program clearly demonstrate the driving performance 
of experienced monocular drivers in the program is better than that of 
all CMV drivers collectively (See 61 FR 13338, 13345, March 26, 1996). 
The fact that experienced monocular drivers demonstrated safe driving 
records in the waiver program supports a conclusion that other 
monocular drivers, meeting the same qualifying conditions as those 
required by the waiver program, are also likely to have adapted to 
their vision deficiency and will continue to operate safely.
    The first major research correlating past and future performance 
was done in England by Greenwood and Yule in 1920. Subsequent studies, 
building on that model, concluded that crash rates for the same 
individual exposed to certain risks for two different time periods vary 
only slightly (See Bates and Neyman, University of California 
Publications in Statistics, April 1952). Other studies demonstrated 
theories of predicting crash proneness from crash history coupled with 
other factors. These factors--such as age, sex, geographic location, 
mileage driven and conviction history--are used every day by insurance 
companies and motor vehicle bureaus to predict the probability of an 
individual experiencing future crashes (See Weber, Donald C., 
``Accident Rate Potential: An Application of Multiple Regression 
Analysis of a Poisson Process,'' Journal of American Statistical 
Association, June 1971). A 1964 California Driver Record Study prepared 
by the California Department of Motor Vehicles concluded that the best 
overall crash predictor for both concurrent and nonconcurrent events is 
the number of single convictions. This study used 3 consecutive years 
of data, comparing the experiences of drivers in the first 2 years with 
their experiences in the final year.
    Applying principles from these studies to the past 3-year record of 
the 24 applicants, four of the applicants were convicted for a moving 
violation and three of the applicants were involved in a crash. All the 
applicants achieved a record of safety while driving with their vision 
impairment, demonstrating the likelihood that they have adapted their 
driving skills to accommodate their condition. As the applicants' ample 
driving histories with their vision deficiencies are good predictors of 
future performance, FMCSA concludes their ability to drive safely can 
be projected into the future.
    We believe that the applicants' intrastate driving experience and 
history provide an adequate basis for predicting their ability to drive 
safely in interstate commerce. Intrastate driving, like interstate 
operations, involves substantial driving on highways on the interstate 
system and on other roads built to interstate standards. Moreover, 
driving in congested urban areas exposes the driver to more pedestrian 
and vehicular traffic than exists on interstate highways. Faster 
reaction to traffic and traffic signals is generally required because 
distances between them are more compact. These conditions tax visual 
capacity and driver response just as intensely as interstate driving 
conditions. The veteran drivers in this proceeding have operated CMVs 
safely under those conditions for at least 3 years, most for much 
longer. Their experience and driving records lead us to believe that 
each applicant is capable of operating in interstate commerce as safely 
as he/she has been performing in intrastate

[[Page 5427]]

commerce. Consequently, FMCSA finds that exempting these applicants 
from the vision standard in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) is likely to achieve a 
level of safety equal to that existing without the exemption. For this 
reason, the Agency is granting the exemptions for the 2-year period 
allowed by 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315 to the 24 applicants listed in 
the notice of December 14, 2010 (75 FR 77942).
    We recognize that the vision of an applicant may change and affect 
his/her ability to operate a CMV as safely as in the past. As a 
condition of the exemption, therefore, FMCSA will impose requirements 
on the 24 individuals consistent with the grandfathering provisions 
applied to drivers who participated in the Agency's vision waiver 
program.
    Those requirements are found at 49 CFR 391.64(b) and include the 
following: (1) That each individual be physically examined every year 
(a) by an ophthalmologist or optometrist who attests that the vision in 
the better eye continues to meet the standard in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10), 
and (b) by a medical examiner who attests that the individual is 
otherwise physically qualified under 49 CFR 391.41; (2) that each 
individual provide a copy of the ophthalmologist's or optometrist's 
report to the medical examiner at the time of the annual medical 
examination; and (3) that each individual provide a copy of the annual 
medical certification to the employer for retention in the driver's 
qualification file, or keep a copy in his/her driver's qualification 
file if he/she is self-employed. The driver must also have a copy of 
the certification when driving, for presentation to a duly authorized 
Federal, State, or local enforcement official.

Discussion of Comments

    FMCSA received one comment in this proceeding. The comment was 
considered and discussed below.
    The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation stated that it was in 
favor of granting a Federal vision exemption to Bobby Sawyers.

Conclusion

    Based upon its evaluation of the 24 exemption applications, FMCSA 
exempts, Gary S. Alvarez, Wayne D. Bost, James M. Brasher, Marcus L. 
Conner, Joseph L. Dahlman, Brett K. Hasty, Fredrick A. Irby, Matthew B. 
Lairamore, Garry D. Layton, Boynton L. Manuel, Anthony W. Miller, 
Wesley G. Moore, Rocky Moorhead, Gary J. Peterson, Bernard J. Phillips, 
Michael J. Roberts, Alvaro F. Rodriguez, Bobby W. Sawyers, Lynn R. 
Schraeder, John R. Shaver, Myron A. Smith, Ricky L. Watts, Cameron R. 
Whitford, and Olen L. Williams, Jr. from the vision requirement in 49 
CFR 391.41(b)(10), subject to the requirements cited above (49 CFR 
391.64(b)).
    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, each exemption 
will be valid for 2 years unless revoked earlier by FMCSA. The 
exemption will be revoked if: (1) The person fails to comply with the 
terms and conditions of the exemption; (2) the exemption has resulted 
in a lower level of safety than was maintained before it was granted; 
or (3) continuation of the exemption would not be consistent with the 
goals and objectives of 49 U.S.C. 31136 and 31315.
    If the exemption is still effective at the end of the 2-year 
period, the person may apply to FMCSA for a renewal under procedures in 
effect at that time.

    Issued on: January 26, 2011.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator, Office of Policy.
[FR Doc. 2011-2091 Filed 1-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
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