Proposed Changes to Vision Standards for Truckers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released a report from its medical review board concerning its plans about the federal driver vision standards. The agency plans to tighten federal driver vision standards for drivers with vision loss in one eye, while finding ways to simplify the process for qualified drivers.

The agency first expressed its intentions to improve the federal vision standards in January of this year. Its medical review board recommended stricter standards for the field-of-vision requirement, per Freightwaves. This recommendation led to the inclusion of provisions that would make it easier for individuals with vision loss in one eye to qualify to drive a commercial motor vehicle without applying for an exemption through the FMCSA.

The new proposal would change the existing visual acuity standard from 70 degrees to 120 degrees of vision bilaterally, with or without corrective lenses. It also “requires that drivers have at least 20/40 vision in their better eye, be able to recognize the colors of traffic signals and devices showing standard red, green and amber, and have a vision deficiency that is stable.”

Under the current rules, truck drivers with vision loss must “complete 3 years of intrastate driving with the vision loss to qualify for an exemption.” Under the new rules, that exemption would be eliminated. Instead, drivers who meet the new vision standard would have to complete a road test issued by the carrier. That road test can be waived, however, if drivers “have three years of intrastate or excepted interstate CMV driving experience with the vision deficiency, hold a valid federal vision exemption, or are medically certified.”

Will this new standard affect road safety?

It could, though there is no guarantee one way or the other. The new vision standard is much stricter and requires a much greater range of vision, which seems like the right move. This could potentially reduce the number of crashes because drivers could be more likely to see hazards on the sides of the trucks, like cars that are attempting to merge. It could also potentially reduce the number of accidents caused by failure to yield, “the most common truck driver behavior related to fatal truck crashes” according to Fleet Owner.

Who is liable if I am hurt in a truck accident?

If you are injured in a truck accident caused by a negligent truck driver, the driver could be liable for your injuries. If the truck driver has a pre-existing medical condition like partial blindness, however, and was still allowed to drive, then multiple parties could be liable for your injuries, including:

• The truck driver
• The trucking company
• The carrier which issued the road test (if applicable)
• The medical professional who administered the vision test (if applicable)

Every truck accident case is unique, so we carefully review the police report from the scene of the crash, all witness testimony, and all medical records for both our client and the truck driver so we can accurately explain what happened. We also work with accident reconstructionists to better understand how the crash occurred, and create a fuller picture for a jury.

Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. is a premier personal injury law firm in Maryland. For more than 35 years, we have stood up for our clients in the face of insurance companies and trucking companies who put their profits before people’s safety. To schedule a free consultation with an experienced Maryland truck accident lawyer, please call 410-730-7737 or submit your information in our contact form. We proudly serve clients throughout the state.