10/11/07-An interim legislative panel in West Virginia has its eyes on a requirement that drivers in the state take a vision test before getting their licenses renewed.
The committee voted in favor of drafting a bill that would look to ensure a driver’s eyesight is adequate for them to safely be on the road.
The bill would mandate that the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles administer vision tests to people renewing their licenses every five years. Currently, vision screening is required only when someone first obtains license, when a new resident applies for a West Virginia license, or if law enforcement suggests testing a driver’s vision, the Charleston Daily Mail reported.
The effort can be brought before lawmakers during the regular session that begins in January. If approved, the DMV will notify drivers 90 days before their license expires. The division now gives drivers a 30-day notice.
People who fail to pass a vision screening would be required to get glasses or update their prescription before getting their license renewed.
The panel also is looking at whether to allow people who use bioptic lenses to get behind the wheel. Bioptic lenses are similar to small telescopes attached to eyeglasses that aid people with poor vision see at a distance.