Obtaining a Medical Certificate for Driving License
Why is The Need
We have been receiving calls from throughout the country; people with monocular vision are not able to take a bit further to Driving License as they are not being issued with the Medical Certificate (Form 1A). As I have toiled through the process, I am here to help our fellows to get Medical Certificate as much as I can.
Universal Visual Standards to hold a Driving License for monocular vision:-
First of all let us discuss visual standards set for a person with monocular vision to hold a Driving License for private transport in the world. In countries like US, UK visual standards are referred to BCVA & Peripheral vision & they are defined differently for every state. Standards applicable are:-
BCVA Standard:- “Best Corrective Visual Acuity” is best possible vision a person can achieve with corrective lenses, measured in terms of Snellen lines on an eye chart. It should be minimum 6/12 with both eye or one eye.
If you have 6/6 vision, you can see clearly at 6 meter what should normally be seen at that distance.
If you have 6/12 vision, it means that when you stand 6 meter away from the chart you can see what a normal human can see when standing 12 meter from the chart.
Peripheral Vision Standard:- Side vision; what is seen on the side by the eye when looking straight ahead. It ranges from 150º to 80º horizontally in different states to meet the standard set for monocular vision.
For both eyes Horizontal Peripheral Vision is approximately 180º & Vertical Peripheral Vision is approximately 100º. For one eye, horizontally it is approximately 150º. One loses approximately 20 % peripheral vision with the loss of one eye.
Some excerpts to support the above said standards:-
“the visual acuity (with the aid of glasses or contact lenses if worn) must be at least 6/12 (0.5 decimal) with both eyes open, or in the only eye if monocular.”
Source:-
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/MedicalRulesForDrivers/MedicalA-Z/DG_185682
“vision fitness certificate can be given to one eyed person, to drive Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) for personal use, provided he has BCVA 6/12, VF 120° horizontal and 40° vertical.”
Source:-
http://aios-scientificcommittee.org/kbase/index.php?topic=1420.0s
Above discussed standards make it clearer that one-eyed person posses the ability to meet the standards required to hold Driving License for private transport, subject to their BCVA & Peripheral Vision.
The Pitiful Condition of the CMV Act & the Medical Procedures in India
In India, as per Form 1 & Form 1A, one should be able to read the number plate at distance of 25 meters & there is no mention of binocularity or monocularity. A person with one eye sees the world outside of 20 feet the same as the person with two eyes, so the standard is met.
Minimum standard of number plate letters for four wheelers in India are height 65, width 10 and space 10 (in mm).
Source:-http://www.intranse.in/its1/sites/default/files/Vehicle%20registration%20plates%20of%20India.pdf
With my research done based on various web resources what I found that there are no Visual Standards set in CMV act of India unlike other countries and there is no mention of even “Eye” word. CMV act is silent on allowing or denying Driving License to such persons as there is no explicit mention for monocular vision (check section 8 of CMV act). The visual standards & rules to be considered are referred to Form 1 & Form 1A. We can say like CMV act doesn’t mention that such persons are allowed to drive, but it doesn’t also mention that they are not allowed to drive. Meanwhile proper explanation is “Do not prohibit”, as stated in Narayan’s RTI reply.
“CMV act and rules made there under do not prohibit visually handicapped person (with normal vision in one eye) from getting driving License, but he is required to furnish Medical Certificate as prescribed in Form 1A of CMV Act”
This labyrinth of CMV act/rules is in our favor & makes us eligible to hold a driving license. If one passes the tests or standards mentioned in Form 1 & Form 1A, which a person with monocular vision can easily pass, he/she is eligible to hold DL in compliance with CMV act & rules. Referring to Form 1A, as per the contemporary acts & rules the ball is in eye-specialist’s court. CMV act has made it eye-specialist’s obligation whether to allow or deny. Mostly they deny without citing any Visual Standards or acts/rules. Isn’t it ignorance of their duty? Obviously it is. If they are really confident on their medical perception that denial is justified, then they should cite proper Visual Standards, acts/rules in written with their name, signature, registration no & seal. They are accountable for such denials & this ignorance must trailed in the land of law.
Dr.S.A.Kareem has raised a good argument on doctor’s reluctance in attesting Medical Certificate:-
“Almost all the countries including whole of Europe and USA clearly state that one eyed persons may be issued a fitness certificate. Refer the report prepared for the International Council of Ophthalmology at the 30th World Ophthalmology Congress, Sao Paulo, Brazil, February 2006 regarding vision standards for driving. Also refer American Medical Association http://virtualmentor.ama-assn.org/2010/12/hlaw1-1012.html . When there is difference of opinion among senior Ophthalmologists, what message we can pass on to our young ophthalmologists. Say for example, the Court of Law issues an order to an eye specialist, on payment of professional fees, to examine a one eyed person and issue a certificate whether this particular person is fit to drive or not, what will this poor eye specialist decide. The same situation arises, when a person under Right to Information Act, asks an eye specialist, on payment of professional fees to issue a certificate, what will this eye specialist do. If we act on our own, can it be treated as medical negligence in the Court of Law and can the eye specialist be punished?”
Source:-http://aios-scientificcommittee.org/kbase/index.php?topic=1420.0
It’s apparent that it’s not only the personnel of RTO’s who are imposing their inadvertence on us; eye-specialists too are no different from them.
Applying for attestation of Medical Certificate Form 1A
Ideal procedure is to write an application to Medical Superintendent along with the RTI reply of Narayan’s. The application will be acknowledged & registered in medical record room & they will have to act on it. Better if you get your own version of RTI (appeal), because RTI specifically addressed to you would work more to convince the doctors. Afterwards it becomes doctor’s obligation to attest the certificate. A medical board is held of ophthalmologist & physician. Applicant undergoes through some tests which are Vision test, Color Vision, Night Vision, & fitness of body parts & if passed, Medical Certificate is issued with no constrains as my own experience says. For further queries, write in through the forum.
A format of the application form for getting a medical certificate is attached here. Edit it to your need and apply to the medical superintendent or any other competent authority at your nearby government hospital.
Download the Application Form.
