Conditions to be Reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
(a) Driving without corrective lenses. A person with visual acuity of 20/40 or better combined vision may drive without corrective lenses.
(1) If a person with visual acuity of 20/40 or better combined vision, however, has visual acuity of less than 20/40 in one eye, the vision in that eye shall be corrected to its best visual acuity.
(2) A person with visual acuity of 20/40 or better combined vision and who has visual acuity of less than 20/40 in one eye, may drive without corrective lenses upon determination by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist that the person’s combined vision would not be improved by the use of corrective lenses.
(b) Driving with corrective lenses. A person with visual acuity of less than 20/40 combined vision shall wear lenses correcting combined vision to 20/40 or better while driving, except that if correction to 20/40 is not possible, the person may drive in daylight hours only if one of the following are met:
(1) The combined vision has been corrected to 20/60 or better.
(2) Visual acuity is less than 20/60 combined vision but at least 20/70 combined vision with best correction, but only upon recommendation of a licensed optometrist or licensed physician who has equipment to properly evaluate visual acuity.
(c) Visual acuity of less than 20/70.
(1) A person with visual acuity of less than 20/70 combined vision but at least 20/100 combined vision with best correction may apply for and may be issued a restricted license only upon recommendation of a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist or licensed physician who has equipment to properly evaluate visual acuity, and only if the following conditions or limitations are satisfied:
(i) The person takes and successfully passes a complete vision examination, including plotted visual fields, upon application and annually thereafter.
(ii) The person takes and successfully passes a driver’s examination upon application.
(iii) The person’s driving privilege is limited to roads other than freeways, as defined in 75 Pa.C.S. § 102 (relating to definitions).
(iv) The person’s driving privilege is limited to passenger vehicles weighing no more than 10,000 pounds, and excludes operation of a motorcycle.
(v) If determined by the Department to be appropriate, the person’s driving privilege is limited to driving within a limited radius of the person’s residence as recommended by a licensed physician.
(2) Violation of these conditions or limitations shall result in the recall of the restricted license. In addition, an annual review of the person’s accident and violation history will be conducted by the Department and the restricted license may be recalled if the Department determines that the person was involved in an at fault accident or convicted of two moving violations committed within a 1-year period.
(d) Visual acuity of less than 20/100. A person with visual acuity of less than 20/100 combined vision with best correction will not be qualified to drive.
(e) Vision requirements. A person shall have a combined field of vision of at least 120° in the horizontal meridian, excepting the normal blind spots.
(f) Sight in one eye. A person may be adequately sighted in only one eye and still meet the requirements of this section The person’s driving privilege will be restricted to vehicles having mirrors so located as to reflect to the person a view of the highway for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear.
(g) Telescopic lenses. Correction through the use of telescopic lenses is not acceptable for purposes of meeting acuity requirements.
(a) General. A person who has a seizure disorder will not be qualified to drive unless a licensed physician reports that the person has been free from seizure for at least 6 months immediately preceding, with or without medication. A person will not be disqualified if the person has experienced only auras during that period.
(b) Waiver. Waiver of the freedom from seizure requirement may be made upon specific recommendation by a licensed physician if one of the following conditions apply:
(1) A strictly nocturnal pattern of seizures or a pattern of seizures occurring only immediately upon awakening has been established over a period of at least 2 years immediately preceding, with or without medication.
(2) A specific prolonged aura accompanied by sufficient warning has been established over a period of at least 2 years immediately preceding, with or without medication.
(3) The person previously had been free from seizure for a 6 month period and the subsequent seizure or seizures occurred as a result of a prescribed change in or removal from medication while under the supervision of a licensed physician. This waiver will only be provided upon reinstitution of previous medication.
(4) The person previously had been free from seizure for 6 months and the subsequent seizure or seizures occurred during or concurrent with a nonrecurring transient illness, toxic ingestion, or metabolic imbalance.
(c) Reporting requirements for provider. Every provider who treats a person who has experienced a single seizure shall provide, consistent with 75 Pa.C.S. § 1518(b) (relating to reports on mental or physical disabilities or disorders), a report to the Department which shall constitute cause for the Department to direct the person to undergo an examination prescribed under 75 Pa.C.S. § 1519 (relating to determination of incompetency).
(a) General disqualifications. A person who has any of the following conditions will not be qualified to drive:
(1) Unstable or brittle diabetes or hypoglycemia, unless there has been a continuous period of at least 6 months freedom from a related syncopal attack.
(2) Cerebral vascular insufficiency or cardiovascular disease which, within the preceding 6 months, has resulted in one or more of the following:
(i) Syncopal attack or loss of consciousness.
(ii) Vertigo, paralysis or loss of qualifying visual fields.
(3) Periodic episodes of loss of consciousness which are of unknown etiology or not otherwise categorized, unless the person has been free from episode for the year immediately preceding.
(b) Disqualification on provider’s recommendation. A person who has any of the following conditions will not be qualified to drive if, in the opinion of the provider, the condition is likely to impair the ability to control and safely operate a motor vehicle:
(1) Loss of a joint or extremity as a functional defect or limitation.
(2) Impairment of the use of a joint or extremity as a functional defect or limitation.
(i) The provider should inform the patient of the prohibition against driving due to the functional impairment.
(ii) The provider shall inform the Department in writing of the impairment if the condition has lasted or is expected to last longer than 90 days.
(3) Rheumatic, arthritic, orthopedic, muscular, vascular or neuromuscular disease.
(i) The provider should inform the patient of the prohibition against driving due to the functional impairment.
(ii) The provider shall inform the Department in writing of the impairment if the condition has lasted or is expected to last longer than 90 days.
(4) Cerebral vascular insufficiency or cardiovascular disease which, within the preceding 6 months, has resulted in lack of coordination, confusion, loss of awareness, dyspnea upon mild exertion or any other sign or symptom which impairs the ability to control and safely perform motor functions necessary to operate a motor vehicle.
(5) Mental disorder, whether organic or without known organic cause, as described in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association, 1700 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009, especially as manifested by the symptoms set forth in (i)—(iii). While signs or symptoms of mental disorder may not appear during examination by the provider, evidence may be derived from the person’s history as provided by self or others familiar with the person’s behavior.
(i) Inattentiveness to the task of driving because of, for example, preoccupation, hallucination or delusion.
(ii) Contemplation of suicide, as may be present in acute or chronic depression or in other disorders.
(iii) Excessive aggressiveness or disregard for the safety of self or others or both, presenting a clear and present danger, regardless of cause.
(6) Periodic episodes of loss of attention or awareness which are of unknown etiology or not otherwise categorized, unless the person has been free from episode for the year immediately preceding, as reported by a licensed physician.
(7) Use of any drug or substance, including alcohol, known to impair skill or functions, regardless whether the drug or substance is medically prescribed.
(8) Other conditions which, in the opinion of a provider, is likely to impair the ability to control and safely operate a motor vehicle.
(c) Driving examination. A person who has any of the conditions enumerated in subsection (b)(1), (2), (3) or (8) may be required to undergo a driving examination to determine driving competency, if the Department has reason to believe that the person’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle is impaired. The person may be restricted to driving only when utilizing appropriate adaptive equipment.
Physicians and other persons authorized to diagnose and treat disorders and disabilities defined by the Medical Advisory Board shall report to the Department, in writing, the full name, date of birth and address of every person 16 years of age and older diagnosed as having any specified disorder or disability within 10 days, under 75 Pa.C.S. § 1518 (relating to reports on mental or physical disabilities or disorders).
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