Licence eye test

the-lada-dude, Sep 20, 8:54pm

I think I see your problem

mber2, Sep 21, 2:33am

A lot of good sighted people fail with those eye test machines at the AA or VTNZ thats why you get one done at the doctors and you will pass

joanie04, Sep 21, 8:35am

I have a problem with the sight in my left eye. I can never pass the test at the AA. I ended up going to the doctor and he passed me but wanted an endorse on my licence that I should only drive vehicles that have wing mirrors. Licence came back with no endorsement. I rang them and they said it was pointless putting the endorsement on as most vehicle now have wing mirrors.

pauldw, Sep 21, 10:08am

The Doctor was just following instructions from NZTA. The point is you don't need a lefthand mirror for a warrant so not all cars will have 2 external mirrors.

joanie04, Sep 22, 5:31am

Every car I have owned has always had both external mirrors no matter the age. I prefer to have both and tend to use them more than the interior one. One of my uncles didn't use the ones on a truck in the quarry. Tried looking over his left shoulder and backed straight into the hopper lol.

ianab, Sep 22, 8:59am

I just had a full eye exam and new specs, but only just passed the eye test, because of the glasses frames and refractive properties of the glasses. Made it look like my peripheral vision was poor. Anyway I did pass, but if I didn't then a cert from my optometrist would have gotten me though.

Yes some people that can see "OK" fail the test, and and real eye test will prove that, and that gets a pass.
But some others that think they are OK are actually as blind as bats, and DO need glasses.

If you fail, get an eye test and you will know which group you are in, Either way you go back with an eye test cert, or new glasses, and pass.

franc123, Oct 2, 10:40am

There was talk a year or two back on one of the local news websites that these licence eye tests were going to be dropped, while its obvious that if you do have a genuine eyesight issue you should sort it, there is no evidence that compulsorily testing all drivers every ten years has actually reduced the road toll or provided any other public benefit. Anyone heard any updates on this?

pauldw, Oct 2, 5:56pm

That was April 2016 http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/news/79183032/Bad-eyesight-doesn-t-make-you-less-safe-as-a-driver-Ministry-looks-to-cut-vision-tests
This would not apply for commercial licences, and people over 75 who would still need vision checks through the medical fitness process.
Without the vision test you could renew online.

It's only been a year and a half, the NZTA usually need 5 years talking to do anything :-)

tegretol, Oct 2, 10:52pm

I have a problem with the sight in my right eye.

joanie04, Oct 3, 5:49am

My late father was legally blind and not allowed to drive the last few years he was alive. His younger brother used to drive them everywhere. Now he is the one that should not be driving. Cooked his last car. Never good with maintenance. That wasn't the issue. He ran over a road cone and stuffed the radiator. On more than one occasion Dad asked if he was going to stop for the car in front of them. Uncle's reply, nothing wrong with your eyesight.

kevymtnz, Sep 20, 10:32am

who else has trouble with some of the left lines
i have no problem with eye chart at doctors and can read some of the bottom line
im long sighted and dont need glasses
i wonder if the people who set up the eye test wear glasses and or are med to short sighted

marte, Sep 20, 11:11am

I find that if I have been welding beforehand, I won't pass.
But if I tell them, they do something and everything becomes clear and I pass.
Using a computer monitor before would probably have the same effect.

hamishcookie, Sep 20, 3:51pm

I'm the same some days I'm sweet with it other times I'm not, lady at the licence place said quite a few people have problems with but its a case of if you pass then your definitely ok if you don't then it need to be assessed by the relevant professional.

pauldw, Sep 20, 5:07pm

If you've had a recent eye test at the doctor's you don't have to redo it.
Certificates must be issued by a New Zealand registered optometrist or medical practitioner (doctor).

kevymtnz, Jan 4, 12:41pm

i dont think its a problem as doc said im about 20% of the population
i can read small print but at a distance but i notice i can see and identify somewhat further than most people
she gave me another line which i read fine

Since the public registrations are closed, you must have an invite from a current member to be able to register and post in this thread. Have an account? Login here.