9/27/2011 Let’s See Your Drivers License
Posted by 20/20&U Blog Admin
Location: Blogs2020&U
 		    
Vision care professionals in New York State will be interested in this announcement from the Department of Motor Vehicles:

Beginning on September 28th, the current license renewal process will be streamlined to allow customers to self-certify that they meet the vision requirement necessary to drive as they currently do for other medical issues. This change will allow motorists to easily renew their licenses on the DMV Web site or by mail. Those obtaining a driver license for the first time will still be required to take a vision test at the DMV and commercial driver license holders will still be required to undergo bi-annual medical and vision examinations by a medical professional.

The current vision testing procedure was instituted in 2000 and requires that the customer read a line on an eye chart located behind the DMV counter. From 1993-2000, vision testing was not required in New York and statistics show that there was no negative impact on traffic safety. Allowing vision self-certification on license renewals will expand an existing process in which applicants already self-certify that they have no driving related medical issues such as hearing or heart ailments or conditions which lead to unconsciousness.

Six states, including Connecticut and Pennsylvania, do not require eye tests at the time of license renewal. Eight additional states, including Massachusetts, allow for self-certification of vision adequate for driving.

Good idea or not? What do 20/20 readers think? How will this impact eye care professionals in New York? Is this part of larger trend, driven by the Internet, of consumers doing their own vision tests and ultimately self-refracting?

— Andrew Karp, Group Editor, Lenses and Technology
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Comments (20)   Add Comment
Re: Let’s See Your Drivers License
By Barry Santini		 9/28/2011
s
I can't wait to "hear" the sheet metal that's gonna crush & fold from senior citizens, who, being the ornery and cantankerous crowd they are, will steadfastly maintain/self-certify that they can drive...even when they have terminal cataracts.

A dumb idea. More surprisingly, I am not aware that any of the 3 "O's" PACs (political action committees) knew about this proposed change in advance, and didn't do anything to alert eyecare professional in NYS about its pending commencement.

B
Re: Let’s See Your Drivers License
By CA402CE4-1A39-4464-B412-0E07DF2281E6		 9/28/2011
s
Perhaps the DMV feared that far too many drivers would be able to see all of those cameras installed at intersection traffic lights?
Re: Let’s See Your Drivers License
By cr		 10/5/2011
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uh, dmv rescinded this policy on 9.30.11 so they could 'consult with doctors'.

just another instance of 'experts' intruding into health care arena without engaging process or doctors.
Re: Let’s See Your Drivers License
By Driving blind		 10/5/2011
s
That's ridiculous. Too many senior citizens should NOT be driving because of their vision. Now add self certification - who would say they can't see and take away their own independence?
Re: Let’s See Your Drivers License
By J Hankin,O.D.		 10/5/2011
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They are going to be doing that in Florida too I hear. Going to be demolition derby out there. Helmets required. I'm def not for it. i already see patients who can barely see the big E driving. Talk about hit and runs, they won't see what they hit. Just the babump as they roll over something.
Re: Let’s See Your Drivers License
By Kur Mudgeon		 10/5/2011
s
A windfall for ambulance chasers, paramedics, orthopaedists, insurance company rate raisers, body shops, wrecking trucks and yards, obituary ad writers. morticians, cemetaries etc. What a way to goose the economy!
Re: Let’s See Your Drivers License
By Tom Kilonsky		 10/5/2011
s
I'm all for streamlining government on all levels but this is crazy. Not only should our vision be checked more time spent on car control training is needed. As we age we all lose accommodation, acuity, and reflexes.
Re: Let’s See Your Drivers License
By Erin		 10/5/2011
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So are drivers license going to say vision correction optional?
Re: Let’s See Your Drivers License
By Cosmo Salibello, OD		 10/5/2011
s
In Oregon, health care providers are, by law, mandatory reporters for daytime best-corrected vision of 20/70 or less. Road safety demands that someone be watching. This NY law is a terrible idea. Just another indication of how lawmakers can be influenced to do the wrong thing by interest groups or the desire to "buy" the votes of constituents.
Re: Let’s See Your Drivers License
By Anita-Eve		 10/5/2011
s
That's pure insanity and extremely disconcerting to say the least! I guess anything to lessen the DMV workload. Insurance companies are going to be quite inundated with claims!! Ack!
Re: Let’s See Your Drivers License
By Chip Anderson		 10/5/2011
s
Ain't Obummer kare gonna force evabody to have an eye x-am already?
By all means we gotta have mo dem laws focin folks to do stuff, after all we knows what's best for dem doan we? It's all for "thier own good." jus lik dem seatbelts n helmunts.

Chip
Re: Let’s See Your Drivers License
By Andrew Karp		 10/5/2011
s
According to an article published October 5 on www.optometrystudents.com, “NYSOA Helps to Shut Down New Drivers License Policy,” New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo has put the new policy on hold for further deliberation after it was met with “extreme backlash” from a health advisory group including members of the New York State Optometric Association (NYSOA) and other health profession groups.
In a response published on www.nysoa.org, the organization stated that it strongly opposes the change in the New York State driver’s license policy because “we believe it will jeopardize the safety of the driving public, their passengers, pedestrians and the licensed drivers themselves.”.
--Andrew Karp
Re: Let’s See Your Drivers License
By Richard Rabinowitz, O.D.		 10/5/2011
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Here in Massachusetts vision is rechecked every ten years for the general population and every five years for senior citizens. Ten years is too long a time, but New York's new regulation is totally ridiculous. You will now have drivers verifying their own vision with some of them wearing glasses prescribed by so called "technicians" using autorefractors. A prescription for disaster!
Re: Let’s See Your Drivers License
By Dr. K		 10/5/2011
s
I already give patient's who refuse to wear their eyeglasses my cell phone number so that they can call me when they are on the road. I will stay home. Now, I think I'll fly. The FAA at least has a brain and tests the vision their pilots. Leave it to the idiots that run the DMV to think that people actually know how well they see. What a country!!!!!!!!!!!!
Re: Let’s See Your Drivers License
By Anh Ho, OD		 10/5/2011
s
This is crazy, how can they expect people to be honest and fail themselves if the test is self-certifying and they don't need doctor's notes. It's more than ridiculous and horrendous!
Re: Let’s See Your Drivers License
By Robert Wallner		 10/5/2011
s
I'm not sure I see the 'political' side of this?
Typically, there is money involved when a law changes.
As far as I can remember, NY licensed opticians where giving (and authorized to give) DMV "vision screening" as a no charge service for motorists. In fact, it was a required 'skill' for passing the ophthalmic dispensing practical in the '80's.
Baffling why legislature would consider allowing motorists to 'self assess' visual performance when it is provided 'free' at optical shops and DMV.
As an avid cyclist, this concept is frightening, to say the least!
Seems like most vehicle-bicycle collisions are 'blamed' on "I didnt 'see' him!' I guess this will become more and more popular? What happens when the first pedestrian is 'mowed down' in a cross-walk by a visually compromised motorist at dawn or twilight? Will we return to the 'self assessment' form and say "you said you could see?"
Re: Let’s See Your Drivers License
By Ann O'neill		 10/6/2011
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It is all about the money not safety that's for sure.They should think about their family and friends when they vote for something like this.How will they feel when one of them dies or is injured in an accident they could have prevented!
Re: Let’s See Your Drivers License
By Barry Santini		 10/8/2011
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I just came back from a multi-city trip.
Let me see if I've got this straight:

I *need* to take off my belt in the airport...every g'dam time for safety sake...

But I don't need to have my vision checked when I drive?

?????

B
Interesting..
By Barry Santini		 10/12/2011
s
The "pushback" from people in all walks of life, expressed through the incredulence in their responses when I discuss this proposed DMV change, heartens me that I still share some sense "in common" with other folk.

Now, how can we add to this discussion the whole idea that safety is also comprimised when eyewear is not dispensed by licensed or certified people.

B
Re: Let’s See Your Drivers License
By Kathy Miller		 10/18/2011
s
Just another example of something my son said..."Why is it getting so hot, and what are we doing in this handbasket?"

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