‘Eye’ing that licence? Take a test first

Driving a car in the city and getting a driving licence could now require you to go through one more test. A separate vision test, when you hit 40 years of age.

Following a huge increase in the number of accidents in Maharashtra, the state transport department has mooted a proposal to include ‘eye vision test’ as a compulsory part of the driving test and licensing process, especially if you are beyond 40 years.

A senior transport department official said that on average more than 12,000 motorists died on Maharashtra’s highways and roads and that there was an urgent need to bring down this figure at the earliest.

The transport department has mooted several proposals and making these tests compulsory is simply one of them.

“Right now, it is compulsory to get a fitness certificate from the driver and every time the licence is renewed, these tests are mandatory,” transport commissioner Dilip Jadhav said.

‘’Don’t just think of the city, but think about the highways and roads beyond that in rural areas. There are cargo truck drivers, who are forced to drive overnight and at the end of it chances of eye fatigue are high,’’ another senior transport department official said.

‘’In the given scenario, if the vision is not clear or if the driver is suffering from myopia (short sightedness) or hypermetropia (long sightedness), it can lead to disastrous consequences,’’ he added.

‘’So to be on the safer side, this additional test, besides the existing medical fitness test, would be an added safety buffer for the driver,’’ he said.
Commuter organisations have reacted with mixed views on the subject. ‘’It would just be another red tape process. Getting a licence will now be a lengthier process,’’ Subhash Maniyar, a city-based consumer activist said.

While Rajan Ravi, who had filed a Right to Information (RTI) query on the transport department’s licensing process, said, ‘’It would make the Regional Transport Offices (RTO) more accountable and hold them responsible for the driver’s poor sight in case of an accident.’’

The proposal has been sent by the transport department to the Maharashtra government, where the state cabinet would discuss and debate it before it is finalised and made into a rule.

“It is good that the department is thinking of taking up such tests besides the regular ones after one attains 40 years of age. It will keep the driver fit for driving vehicles on all kinds of roads,” consumer activist and member of Mumbai Vikas Parishad AV Shenoy said.

Defective eye sight can prove fatal while driving
It is very important to have normal vision while driving. Making the eye test mandatory before obtaining your driving licence can prevent many accidents. Anyone can suffer from eye defects not just people who have passed the age of 40. You should get your eyes checked every year. Diseases like glaucoma, cataract and diabetes can change your peripheral field of vision. If you can’t see clearly and if things appear blurred while driving, it can prove fatal.
>    Normal vision: 6/6 or 20/20 vision is normal with spectacles or without spectacles. 
>    Binocular Vision: It is very important to have depth perception while driving. When only one eye functions normally and the other has low or no vision then it can create difficulties while judging the distance or depth of the object.
Dr Anagha Heroor,
Ophthalmologist, Anil Eye Hospital 

Will help reduce accidents
In order to obtain a driver’s licence, you must be able to prove that you are able to see adequately to operate a motor vehicle, ensuring safety while travelling. When we speak about road accidents, the driver’s ability is important. Making it mandatory for people above the age of 40 to under go eye check-ups will help a little to reduce accidents on Mumbai’s pothole ridden roads.
Kaustubhi Kale,
PR professional

We are lax about laws
This is a good initiative that has been taken up by the RTO. Making the eye test mandatory for people over the age of 40 while obtaining or renewing driving licence is a good move. This will reduce the accidents that are caused by people with faulty vision. People are usually lax about laws in India; I hope people are actually made to go for an eye test instead making it another excuse to collectbribe.
Amit Kumar,
IT professional