Make Dynamic Visual Acuity a Driver’s License Requirement
2026-02-20
A review record examining the possibility of adding dynamic visual acuity to driver’s license vision testing, which currently focuses on static visual acuity, from the perspectives of institutional conditions, measurement methods, and associated challenges.
1. Premise
The visual acuity standard for a driver’s license is based on static visual acuity (so-called biological vision).
Binocular acuity of 0.7 or higher, and at least 0.3 in each eye.
Measurement is conducted using a Landolt ring.
This confirms the ability to identify stationary targets.
2. Question
Driving occurs in a dynamic environment.
Vehicles ahead, pedestrians, bicycles, and signs move relative to the driver.
Contrast decreases at night and in rain.
At higher speeds, the approach velocity of visual targets increases.
Is static visual acuity alone sufficient?
3. What Is Dynamic Visual Acuity?
The ability to identify moving objects.
Tracking changes in speed.
Instantaneous information processing speed.
Tends to decline with age.
Emphasized in competitive sports, but its relationship to traffic safety remains to be verified.
4. Potential Advantages
Quantification of hazard prediction capability.
One evaluation element for elderly drivers.
Potential correlation with nighttime accidents.
Differentiation from corrected static visual acuity values.
5. Anticipated Challenges
Standardization of measurement devices.
Implementation cost.
Increase in license renewal processing time.
Insufficient medical evidence.
Overlap with static visual acuity evaluation.
6. Institutional Design Issues
Method of setting threshold values.
Whether to use as a pass/fail criterion or as reference data.
Whether to introduce age categories.
Development of correlation data with accident statistics.
7. Supplement
In tire performance evaluation, not only static tests but dynamic tests are essential.
Braking distance, wet grip, and hydroplaning resistance are evaluated under dynamic conditions.
Meanwhile, human evaluation remains centered on static measures.
Dynamic assessment on the machine side, static assessment on the human side: a structural asymmetry.
8. Conclusion Undetermined
It cannot be concluded that the current system is insufficient.
However, dynamic visual capability may not be evaluated.
Correlation analysis between accident statistics and visual ability should precede any institutional change.