Current through September 24, 2024
(1) Applicants for
commercial driver licenses shall pass a vision test with the minimum
qualifications as specified in 49 C.F.R. §391(1989) unless they are
exempted from meeting federal physical and mental standards by 1340-1-13-.09.
If exempt, they shall meet the general vision standards set forth
below.
(2) Operators of
non-commercial vehicles shall pass the general vision requirements if their
visual acuity is at least 20/40 (Snellen) or better, each eye separately, and
both eyes together.
(3) Applicants
for either commercial or non-commercial licenses who fail to meet the
applicable vision screening requirements shall be provided an eye specialist
form to be completed by a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist of their
choice.
(4) Applicants for
non-commercial licenses who present a completed eye specialist form shall pass
the vision tests under the following conditions:
(a) Applicants with 20/60 (Snellen) or
better, each eye separately and both eyes together, shall pass with or without
corrective lenses. These applicants shall be restricted to driving motor
vehicles with both left and right outside rear-view mirrors.
(b) Applicants with 20/40 (Snellen) or
better, one eye (other eye 20/60 to blind), shall pass with or without
corrective lenses. These applicants shall be restricted to driving motor
vehicles with both left and right outside rear-view mirrors.
(5) Applicants able to meet the
vision standards only with corrective lenses shall be restricted to operating
motor vehicles only when such lenses are worn.
SUMMARY
|
Visual
Acuity |
Restrictions |
| 20/40 or better - -right eye and left
eye | None (unless corrective lenses are needed to achieve
visual acuity) |
| 20/40 or better one eye 20/60 to blind
other eye | * Corrective lenses (if applicable) Outside
rear-view mirrors |
| 20/60 or better - -right eye and left
eye | * Corrective lenses (if applicable) Outside rear-view
mirrors |
*NOTE: These persons shall be required to supply the eye
statement provided by the Department and completed by a licensed
ophthalmologist or optometrist.
Applicants failing to meet any of the above standards shall
be failed
(6) Low Vision
Guidelines (Bioptic Lens and/or Telescopic Lens Wearer). Applicants for Class
D, PD, or H licenses who are handicapped by low vision acuity, but who
otherwise qualify for a driving privilege may be licensed under the following
guidelines:
(a) Qualifications:
1. The applicant shall have acceptable
mobility.
(i) Other than vision, the applicant
shall not be impaired in the movement of the eyes, head or neck,
2. The applicant shall be free of
all mental impairments.
3. Prior to
application, the bioptic wearer shall complete training in driving with a
bioptic telescopic lens(es) from a driving instructor certified in this
field.
(b) Requirements:
1. The applicant shall have a visual acuity
of at least 20/200 with the best conventional non-telescopic corrective
lens(es), and a full visual field.
(i) The
central field vision loss shall not exceed five (5) degrees.
2. The applicant's visual acuity
with the bioptic telescope shall be at least 20/60.
(i) The power of the bioptic telescope shall
not exceed four power (4x).
(ii)
The bioptic telescopic lens(es) may be fit either monocularly or binocularly,
but shall be located superior to the normal line of gaze.
3. The applicant shall have a horizontal
visual field diameter of no less. than one hundred fifty (150) degrees without
the use of field expanders.
4. The
applicant shall present certification of having completed training in the use
of a bioptic telescope for driving purposes.
(i) This certification shall be obtained from
an optometrist or ophthalmologist identified by a recognized professional
organization as one especially qualified in the field of Low Vision care
or,
(ii) from a Certified
Rehabilitation Person.
5. The applicant shall present certification
of having completed a certified driver education course. This course must have
been completed while the applicant was wearing the bioptic telescopic
lens(es).
6. The applicant shall
present a report from the Low Vision specialist on a form supplied by the
Department which contains the following information:
(i) Patient's vital data;
(ii) Date the system was dispensed;
(iii) Complete information regarding the
visual requirements outlined above;
(iv) Diagnosis of the visual condition and an
apparent date of onset; and
(v) A
statement concerning the stability of the condition (progressive, stable, or
undetermined).
7. This
report shall not be written until the applicant has used the system at least
sixty (60) days, and shall have been conducted within six (6) months of the
date of the application.
8. From
the initial report date, the applicant shall re-submit annually an updated
report.
(i) if there has been a change in
stability, a re-examination may be required. (c) Types of restrictions:
1. Listed below are restrictions that may or
may not be required. Restrictions shall not be limited to the following, but
shall include any other restriction deemed necessary by the doctor of the
licensee or the advisory board for low vision acuity.
(i) Daylight driving only
(ii) Fifty (50) m.p.h. maximum
speed
(iii) Outside rear-view
mirrors (left/right)
(iv) Certain
area and time restrictions
(I) Occasionally
because of a visual defect and its observed affect on the driving performance,
restriction may be necessary to a certain area or time.
(v) No interstate driving
2. Basic training requirements:
(i) The minimum training requirements for
wearers of bioptic telescope lens(es) shall include the following:
(I) Locating stationary objects within the
telescopic field of view, by aligning the object directly next to the
telescopic lens(es), and then moving his/her head and his/her eyes
simultaneously to see the object with the telescope.
(II) Locating a moving object in a large
field of vision by anticipating future movement, so that by moving his/her head
and eyes in a coordinated fashion he/she can locate the moving object within
the telescopic field.
(III)
Training in brief visual exposure with the deviation of exposure diminished
constantly to simulate short-looking time while driving.
(IV) Experiencing riding as a passenger in a
motor vehicle and also walking, so that he/she has actually experienced moving
while objects are changing position.
(ii) Training in the use of
bioptic-telescopic lens(es) does not entitle the wearer to a driver license. It
only assists him/her to qualify on the vision portion of the testing.
(7) The vision standards in this rule
applicable to non-commercial driver license shall also apply to applicants for
and holders of temporary driver licenses.
Authority: T.C.A. §§
55-50-202,
55-50-322,
55-50-331,
55-50-410, Public Chapter No. 194,
2007, Public Acts of 2004; Chapter 778, and
49 C.F.R.
§391.41(1989).
