A survey of the visual acuity of Brisbane drivers.

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a survey of the visual acuity of a group of Brisbane Drivers.

SETTING

The outpatient department of the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane.

PARTICIPANTS

Five hundred and three subjects drawn from patients, visitors and staff attending the outpatient department on 10 working days from December 5 to December 16, 1988.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjects' age, driver's licence details and driving history were gathered by questionnaire. Visual acuity was assessed with the aid of a Snellen chart.

RESULTS

Nearly 6% of the survey group had visual acuity worse than 6/12; 15% had never had their eyes tested other than for licensing purposes; 21% stated that their last ophthalmic or optometric examination was more than five years previously; and 8% failed to meet the Queensland visual acuity requirements for their class of licence.

CONCLUSIONS

The monocular driver is not detected by current licence testing procedures in Queensland. Many licence holders do not meet the present visual acuity criteria of the Queensland Department of Transport.