Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
(a)
Driving without corrective lenses. A person with visual acuity
of 20/40 or better combined vision may drive without corrective lenses.
(1) If a person with visual acuity of 20/40
or better combined vision, however, has visual acuity of less than 20/40 in one
eye, the vision in that eye shall be corrected to its best visual
acuity.
(2) A person with visual
acuity of 20/40 or better combined vision and who has visual acuity of less
than 20/40 in one eye, may drive without corrective lenses upon determination
by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist that the person's combined vision
would not be improved by the use of corrective lenses.
(b)
Driving with corrective
lenses. A person with visual acuity of less than 20/40 combined vision
shall wear lenses correcting combined vision to 20/40 or better while driving,
except that if correction to 20/40 is not possible, the person may drive in
daylight hours only if one of the following are met:
(1) The combined vision has been corrected to
20/60 or better.
(2) Visual acuity
is less than 20/60 combined vision but at least 20/70 combined vision with best
correction, but only upon recommendation of a licensed optometrist or licensed
physician who has equipment to properly evaluate visual acuity.
(c)
Visual acuity of less
than 20/70.
(1) A person with visual
acuity of less than 20/70 combined vision but at least 20/100 combined vision
with best correction may apply for and may be issued a restricted license only
upon recommendation of a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist or licensed
physician who has equipment to properly evaluate visual acuity, and only if the
following conditions or limitations are satisfied:
(i) The person takes and successfully passes
a complete vision examination, including plotted visual fields, upon
application and annually thereafter.
(ii) The person takes and successfully passes
a driver's examination upon application.
(iii) The person's driving privilege is
limited to roads other than freeways, as defined in
75 Pa.C.S. §
102
(relating to definitions).
(iv) The
person's driving privilege is limited to passenger vehicles weighing no more
than 10,000 pounds, and excludes operation of a motorcycle.
(v) If determined by the Department to be
appropriate, the person's driving privilege is limited to driving within a
limited radius of the person's residence as recommended by a licensed
physician.
(2) Violation
of these conditions or limitations shall result in the recall of the restricted
license. In addition, an annual review of the person's accident and violation
history will be conducted by the Department and the restricted license may be
recalled if the Department determines that the person was involved in an at
fault accident or convicted of two moving violations committed within a 1-year
period.
(d)
Visual acuity of less than 20/100. A person with visual acuity
of less than 20/100 combined vision with best correction will not be qualified
to drive.
(e)
Vision
requirements. A person shall have a combined field of vision of at
least 120° in the horizontal meridian, excepting the normal blind
spots.
(f)
Sight in one
eye. A person may be adequately sighted in only one eye and still meet
the requirements of this section The person's driving privilege will be
restricted to vehicles having mirrors so located as to reflect to the person a
view of the highway for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear.
(g)
Telescopic lenses.
Correction through the use of telescopic lenses is not acceptable for purposes
of meeting acuity requirements.
The provisions of this §83.3 amended under the Vehicle
Code,
75 Pa.C.S. §§
1517,
1518 and
6103.
