Every year, around 550 Norwegians have to park their cars for good because of their eyesight. But many may have been deprived of their driving license on the wrong basis, says Thea Melsen Sudmann. She is a doctor and PhD student at the Eye Department at Oslo University Hospital (OUS), and researches the vision requirements for driving licenses in Norway and the EU. The new study shows that around 70 per cent of those who are deprived of their driving license due to vision impairment, pass a practical driving test in a simulator. Thea Melsen Sudmann says many people are in despair, and feel that they cannot prove their driving skills with the current test method. Photo: Nadir Alam / news The field of vision extends approximately 90 degrees to the side for each eye, and is crucial for being able to orient oneself in the surroundings when driving a car. – It seems that many of those with visual impairments can still be safe drivers. They have paid a high price which is not necessarily right, she says. The Norwegian regulations are based on an EU directive from 2009, and the Esterman method for testing the field of vision. This method has long been debated. – Our research shows that testing the visual field cannot predict who actually passes a practical driving test in a simulator. The image shows a participant’s result of the light click test. The black squares are points that the test subject missed. Photo: Nadir Alam / news Øystein Kalsnes Jørstad, professor and section leader at the eye department at OUS, believes the Norwegian Directorate of Health’s interpretation of the EU directive is too square. – My experience, and I know many driver’s license cases, is that the current regulations are very strict. It puts too much emphasis on this vision test, he says. Jørstad feels that it is challenging for doctors to assess people’s driving abilities based only on the one test. He believes there must be more focus on practical driving ability in cases of doubt. – In this way, we can also safeguard both the individual’s legal security and society’s need for safe roads. Øystein Kalsnes Jørstad says it is difficult for doctors to distinguish between good and bad drivers based only on an examination of the field of vision. Photo: Nadir Alam / news Now the research can lead to changes in the rules. – The Directorate of Health will consider changes to the regulations based on the results of the research, including harmonization with the regulations with our neighboring countries, says divisional director Helen Brandstorp to news. – We are in dialogue with the researchers behind this work, the road authority and the Ministry of Transport. Poorer quality of life Damage to the field of vision can occur after, among other things, stroke and glaucoma. In 2020, Simon Wiborg (38) from Flatanger got a small spot in his field of vision as a result of a minor stroke. – It affects me little in everyday life. I feel that I function normally, he says. When he took the vision test, however, Wiborg missed a single flash of light. This led to the 38-year-old losing the patch on the spot. – Right then and there I was most happy that I was doing so well after the battle. It was only afterwards that the consequences dawned on me. The crosses show the flashes of light Simon registered in the test – and the square he missed. Photo: Nadir Alam / news The lack of opportunity to drive a car quickly became pervasive in everyday life. Wiborg experienced that it also affected the quality of life. – When you are from a small place in Trøndelag that does not have the same public transport services as in Oslo, it is clear that it has its challenges. I am happy to be able to put the skis in the car and the bike in the boot and drive to the mountains. It’s difficult when you don’t have the note. Wiborg was eventually also deprived of his health certificate. He thus lost his job on a platform in the North Sea. Got his driving license back When Wiborg took part in his studies at OUS, he passed all cognitive tests with flying colors. The results showed only a slight damage to the field of vision. Wiborg therefore went to the State Administrator in Trøndelag to request a dispensation from the health requirements. Today, he is working full-time in the Armed Forces – and has received his note back. – It was not a given that this was the outcome. so I’ve been very lucky. Sudmann and Jørstad emphasize that it is only a minority who are exempted from the vision requirements, and that most of those who passed the driving test in a simulator still do not have a driving licence. . The participants in the study have covered their own travel and accommodation to participate. – The commitment has been enormous. It has been a real effort, says Thea Sudmann. Photo: Nadir Alam / news The project has been supported by both the Blind Association and the Norwegian Glaucoma Association. Asle Haukaas, chairman of the latter, is very excited about the results. He believes it is high time for change. – Of course, not everyone will have a driver’s license forever, but it is a very invasive measure for individuals. Then there should be sufficient documentation that they are not actually fit to drive a car. According to Haukaas, many are also afraid to go to the ophthalmologist for fear of losing their certificate, and thus miss out on important treatment. – The research from OUS and also Sweden confirms that the regulations contribute to the wrong people being taken out of traffic. At the same time, he experiences a big difference in how Norwegian drivers are assessed compared to other countries. Haukaas even lost his driving license due to cataracts, he says. – You won’t meet me in traffic, but you can meet European drivers with far worse vision. Published 03.11.2024, at 22.39
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Many people with visual impairments may have lost the note on the wrong basis – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
