Evening star., 1928-04-08
WILL TEST SAFETY
IN motor VISION
EyeSight Conservation Ex-
pertS to Make Nationwide
Study of Subject.

To ascertain what safety motor
vision" really is, the Eyesight ConServa-
ton Council of America, in New York
| City has begun Nationwide study.
The council the announcement by Gen.
eral Director Guy A. Henry said, aims
to assemble complete data as to pro-
cedure and practice and to determine
the trends of policy in each State, so
that from the existing mass OF diverSi-
fed regulations 1t will be possible TO
shape standards by which the eyes OF
Americas more than 25,C00, 900 drivers
can be tested with uniformity and
fairness.
To what extent poor eyes,gh: is con-
Sistent with safe driving is question
yet unanswered. the announcement de-
clared, though 1t is an important factor
in the traffic problem. Regulations, 1t
was found, vary widely throughout the
country. In some States visual tests
are required by law; in others they are
not. Harmony of practice Is lacking.
Visual Tests Advised.
Experience. however" the announce
ment continued. has convinced trafhc
directors that visual test should be
required of every applicant for drivers
license. It is noteworthy that wherever
eyesight tests have been started they
never have been discontinued.
Hundreds of thousands OF auto1lo-
bilistS are now examined for defects OF
vision annually in this country, but
without proper relation to standard
scientifically reached and uniformly
applied.
norm for motorists. We must find cut
where the danger line in motor vision
lies"
New York State, 1t was asserted by
the council, is progressively increasing
eyeSight requirements and Is about TO
put into force a regulation that every
driver must have so per cent Of aormal
vision to obtain license.
Result of Survey Cited.
After careful survey made at the
wheel of an auto with different Jogging
lenses. it has been discovered in the
New York experiments that a person
with so per cent vision would be able
to see safely and TO judge distance
while driving.
Previous requirements. fixed by COM
missioner c. A. Harnet, were two-Sev-
enthS of normal vision, which went into
effect in January, 1927. anu two-1ifthS
adopted In the following April.
The more stringent examinations
which New York motorists Will be
called upon to take will, the council
pointed out, be definite advance To-
ward safeguarding life and limb, facili-
tate traffic and make safety precau-
tions in driving an automobile COM
parable TO those governing the running
of a railroad locomotive.
During the last nine months the eyes
of 3l7.332 persons were examined in
New York. Of these, 4,363 failed to
pass under the two-fifths requisite.
Thirty-one thousand limited licenses.
Good only when driving with correct
ing lenses" were issued during this
period. Increased number Of failures
to meet the test are predicted when the
standard is raised.
In New Jersey rejected applicants
numbered 2,938 during nine months.
Reports from other States. as well as
from Canada, to the council. 1t was
said, show need for exhaustive informa-
ton from which accurate tests may be
built up.
Record I'm District OF Columbia.
According to q report from the Dis
trict Of Columbia, investigation has
demonstrated that so per cent is the
lowest safe acuity standard. because "a
so per cent daylight acuity IS SO reduced
by darkness (average lighted streetsI or
by the presence of rain, snow, etc, On
the windshield as TO lower the effective
acuity to 40T per cent, or in the event
Of a combination OF both TO 32.9 per
cent"
In Pennsylvania the Department Of
Highways is experimenting with the
probability Of conducting eyeSight ex-
aminations at all of its examining sta
tions Pennsylvania now requires 20
per cent normal vision.
So far as the council can determine.
color blindness is not sufficient 70 debar
a motor vehicle operator. Neither Is
blindness in one eye, provided that the
acuity In the seeing eye and the field
Of vision are adequate.
State motor vehicle departments and
other agencies will cooperate in the
councils study. which. 1t Is hoped, viii
cut down the number.of automobile ia
talitieA estimated In 1927 at more than
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