Extracts from the report of the committee of experts on licensing of motor vehicles drivers (E/CN.2/133): consultant group on medical requirements for the licensing of motor vehicle drivers: Geneva, 29 August - 2 September 1955

UNITED NATIONS WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION CONSULTlJ1T GRCUP ON HEDICAL REQUIRE:l:ENTS FOR THE LICENSING OF liOTOR V3HI~lli DRIVICBS Gcnevc, 29 Au9~st - 2 ~cptember 1955 NATIONS UNI!S OROANISATION MONDIALE DELASANTE ~mo; Accid.Prov ./2 ~ 6 July 1955 ORIGINA.L: ENGLISH EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF THE COl,ll'LITTEE OF ZXPERTS ON LICEI~STI-!G OF Hai'OR VEHIClE DRJVE.qs (E/CN.2/l33) The CommittGo of Experts on Licensinci of Motor Vehicle Drivers was set up in accord<:mce with Economic &.. SC'cial CounciJ. resc·lution 379. B (XIII) of ll August 1951. This Committee met in New York from 29 September to 24 October 1952 and reported its findings to the Sixth Session of the Transport and Communications Commission. The following extracts from the report are relevant to the present discussion and relcte to the 1redical aspects for the licensing of motor vehicle drivers. III. Minimum Uniform Regulations for the LicensinG of Motor Vehicle ·Drivers Recommended for Considerntion by Governments in Connexion with their Domestic Laws and Rebulations The Committee considers thct the greatest possible uniformity should be aimed at as re6ards the following: (l) ~~e limits for drivers of vehicles in the various catebories; (2) Determination of competence to drive; (3) Aclministrative control of drivers, The requirements in respect of the above subjects will of necessity vary for drivers of vehicles belonging to different catebories. The Committee has used as definitions of the various categories of motor vehicles those given in Annex 9 of the Convention on Road ~ratiic. Thus the categories of vehicles referred to WHO/ Accid. Prev ./~ paee2 in this report·are as follows: A - Motorcycles with or without a aide-car, invalid carriages and three-wheeled motor vehicles with an unladen weight not exceeding 400 kg (900 lb.). B - Motor vehicles used for the transport of passengers and comprising, in addition to the driver's seat, at most eight seats, or those used for the transport of goods and having a permissible.maximum weight not exceedin~ 3,500 kg (7,?UL l~~l. Vehicles in this category may be coupled with a light trailer. C ~ Motor vehicles used for the transport of goods and of which the permissible maximum weight exceeds .~., 500 1::3 (J, ?vu lb~). Vehicles in this category may be coupled with a light trailer. D • Motor vehicles used for the transport of passengers and comprising, in addition to the driver's seat, more than eight seats. Vehicles in this category may be coupled with a light trailer. E - Motor vehicles of categories B, C or D, for which the driver is licensed, with other than a light trailer. Proof of competence to drive The Committee recommends that, in order to be considered fit and competent to drive a motor vehicle, the applicant should meet certain standards with regard to his: (a) mental and physical fitness; (b) knowledge of traffic laws and regulations 1 and correct road behaviour; (c) proficiency in driving. (a) Mental and physical fitness A survey of existing driver licensing regulations in all parts of the world indicates that while in a number of countries a medical certificate is required WHO/ Accid. Prev ./2 page 3 from an applicant for a driving permit to the effect that he does not suffer from any mental or physical disability which would render his driving unsafe, in many countries only a decln.ration by tho applicant to this effect is required, at least where permits to drive certn.in categories of vehicles are concerned. However a medical examinaticn is us~ally required of applicants for per.mits ~o c~ive public passenger transport vehicles. It is stressed by the Committee that in determining the mental and physical fitness of applicants for driving permits, great care should be exercised. Special precautions should be taken to prevent the issue or renewal of permits to drivers - especially drivers of public service (passenger) vehicles - who do not meet the desired mental or physical standards. The recommendations made by the Committee with regard to mental and physical fitness of drivers are provisional and should be revised in accordance with the results of research which, the Committee understands, is being undertaken in this fielo in some countries, The Committee recommends that for the guidance of licens:L'1g authorities, the ~vorld Health O!,'ganization be asked to recommend requirements for mental and physical fitness of motor vehicle drivers and also as to the best method of determining the mental and physical fitness of o.pplicants for driving permits. n recommends in particular the preparation by ifJHO of a handbook containing (1) rules for the guidance of medical practitioners vJhen making examinations of health, vision and hearing and (2) standards to be followed by licensing authorities in drawing up the practical test to be carried (mt by examiners., The Committee noted the recommendations dealing with vision of motor vehicle drivers agreed in 1950 by the International Federation of Ophthalmological Societies. . Pending the more detailed recommendations of the MIO, the Cormnittee agrees on the following recommendations on conditions relative to mental and physical fitness, in pn.rticular with regard to: disqualifying conditions determj_nation of mental and physical fitness general provisions for drivers of motor cabs and vehicles in categories C and D. WHO/Accid,P.rev./2 page 4 A. Disqualifying Conditions 1. Health The Committee considers that a permit to drive should be refused; (a) in the case of applicants for permits to drive vehicles in all categories to persons found to be suffering from: (i) diseases likely to render the c~ivcr either permanently or . . t.J1:1p::..rmo:Uy inct\pt\ble: er ecntrw.lln:..; the voh:icle, such ns op1l.c;.JS'Y', ~sia., :sor1c)'llS hon:'t -!tsorclcrs, etc. (ii) mental disorders (b) in the case of applicants to drive vehicles in categories C, D, and motor cabs: Serious infectious diseases. 2. Disabled or Crippled Persons (a) A permit to drive vehicles of cataciories A and B1 except motor cabs, should be refused to disabled or crippled persons who are unable to pass a practical test with suitable equipment. The Committee recommends to licensing authorities that an endorsement be made on the driving permits issued to cripped or disabled persons indicating that they can only drive vehicles which have been specially adapted for particulnr use or if they are themselves equipped with the appropriate devices, or both. The permit would only be valid if this endorsement is shown. (b) No permits to drive motor cabs or vehicles in categories c, and D should be issued to applicants with physical disabilities or with amputations such as to render the applicant unable to control the motor vehicle. The use of special devices or the adaptation of vehicles in these categories should not be authorized. The attention of the Committee was drawn to the fact that it has been round possible to make sOMe exceptions to this disqualification in certain WHO/Accid,Prev,/2 page 5 ~ountries.where disabled.persons as a result of available training programmes are able to drive vehicles heavier than those specified in category B, and in some instances motor cabs. 3. Alcohol or Narcotics No permit to drive any category of vehicle should be issued to persons found to be addicted to alcohol or narcotics. This recommendation is made in view of the fact that driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquors or narcotics is a public danger on the road. 4. Vision nnd Hearing Certain inadequacies and diseases of vision and hearing should disqualify applicants for permits to drive all categories of vehicles. B. Determination of Mental and Physical Fitness l. General Provisions for Drivers of Motor Vehicles in Categories A and B excluding motor cabs The Committee recommends that, while permits to drive vehicles in categories A and B, except motor cabs, might be issued without ·a medical certificate from a physician, the examiner who gives the driving test should be required to judge the mental and physical fitness of the applicant. In case of doubt the applicant should be required to undergo a medical examination. Special Provisions relating to Vision and Hearing (a) Vision (i) The visual acuity of the applicant should be such that he is atle to read at a distance 30 m a motor vehicle registration )late ~ocrine letters 10 cm high, or at a distance of 25 yd a plate ~o~:1ne. lottors· ) in. hi£h. (ii) Ias field of vision should be not less than 130 degrees. (iii) I~ should be able to distinguish betw~en the coloars·red, green o.nd yellcw. WHO/Acoid.Prev./2 page 6 The Committee is of the opinion that whUe colour blJ.ndness itself need not be a bar to·driving a motor vehicle, i\ 1B nevertheless important for the driver to know of his deticlency. The dri vl.ng permit should show by means of an endorsement when its holder can meet the requirements on vision only when wearing glasses. Examination of the eyesight of drivers of motor vehicles in these categories, covering acuity of vision, field of vision and colour sense may be perfor.med b.Y the examiner giving the driving test. For this reason, simple and practical methods should be indicated in the instructions prepared for examiners. The examiner should, in case of doubt request a medical exa.inination. Applicants having the use of only one eye should pass a medical examination. The Committee recommends further that licensing authorities develop methods of examining vision which would identify applicants with low standards of adaptation to night driving. In this connexion, it expresses the·hopa that the special study of light sense which the Committee notes has been on the programme of the International Federation of Ophthnlmological Societies may be brought to early completion.1/ (b) HearinG Partial deafness should not disqunlif'y an applicant but he should be able to hear ordinary sound signals durinG the practical test made on the road. The Committee is of the opinion that. this ·test should be made without a hearing aid at the present stage of development of such devices. y .t..rticle entitled 11 0phthal.mie International Standards, 1950", by Pro£. T. H. Nordenson, published :1n the llritish Journnl of Ophtha.JJ1loloey (August, 1951). WHO/Accid,Pr~./2 page 7 2. General Provisions for drivers of motor cabs and of vehicles in categories C and D Applicants for permits to drive vehicles in these categories should be examined by recoanized medical practitionerse Special provisions relatinJ to vision and hearing (a) Vision The applicant should pass a medical examination in order to ensure that his eyesight is satisfactorye The following is an example of what may be considered satisfactory: The visual acuity of the appliccnt should be 1.0; 0.? 1 without correction; maximum correction allowed should be up to 6 D ametropia for drivers of motor cabs and up to 4 D ametropia for drivers of vehicles in categories C and Do This example is based on a definition by the International Federation of OphthalmoloGical Societies of the visual acuity which should be required of drivers of public service vehicles and taxisa The driving permit should show by means of an endorsement when its holder can meet the requirements on vision only vmen wearing glasses. (b) Hearing The applicant should puss a medical examination to ensure that he has a reasonable standard of hearing. A hearin~ aid should not be used during this examination. Deafness in one ear should not in itself be a disqualification,