Closed Road Driving Performance: Effect of Degradation of Visual Acuity

Abstract

It is virtually impossible to read the literature on driving without encountering a statement to the effect that 90% of the information required for driving is “visual”. From such a perspective, the prevalence of the 20/40 visual acuity criterion for unrestricted driver licensure seems understandable (e.g., Bailey & Sheedy, 1988). A critical question, however, is whether this, or any of the existing vision standards for licensure, can be defended by reference to empirical evidence. Answers to such questions will become increasingly important as an increasing proportion of the population fails to meet existing standards due to normal aging and/or age-related ocular disorder.