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The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles announced Friday the current system of eye tests prior to getting a license renewed will stay in effect, pending recommendation from an advisory group.
NYS DMV Commissioner Barbara J. Fiala announced the creation of an advisory group of health, safety and transportation experts to determine the tests necessary for safe driving, while being cost-effective for the state.
This announcement comes days after the DMV said drivers could self-certify they had sufficient vision to renew their licenses. Fiala said the latest procedures for vision testing will be analyzed, including the policies of other states.
"I have asked the medical organizations prominent in the vision health field, AAA and AARP, to review the best alternatives for a system that receives more than 2.4 million driver license renewal applications each year," Fiala said in a press release announcing the advisory group. "Those of us charged with delivering key government services to the public must always look for the most cost-effective ways to provide those services, but public safety will always be the first priority at DMV and it will not be compromised."
The current vision test was implemented in 2000, and was previously suspended from 1993-2000. Fourteen states allow motorists to renew their driver license without a vision test.
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