Stakeholder perspectives on vision screening for drivers in Gauteng: Policy review implications.

Abstract

Background: Effective implementation of vision screening standards at driving licensing testing centres (DLTCs) necessitates adequate administrative and resource management.

Aim: To ascertain the perspectives of site managers and driver's licence examiners regarding vision screening standards at DLTCs in Gauteng province, South Africa.

Setting: The study was conducted in Gauteng province, South Africa.

Methods: A qualitative study that utilised interview questionnaires to assess site managers' and driver's licence examiners' perspectives on the vision screening standards at the DLTC sites.

Results: A total of 30 participants, comprising 15 site managers and 15 driver's licence examiners, were interviewed from 15 out of 32 randomly selected functional DLTCs in the Gauteng province. The current vision policy and driving practices have remained unchanged since their inception. The vision screening equipment utilised at DLTCs has transitioned from manually operated to automated systems. Nevertheless, frequent machine breakdowns, primarily attributed to inadequate maintenance plans, were among the most frequently reported barriers to efficient vision screening.

Conclusion: This study highlights the need to review and update vision-related policies and practices for driver licensing in South Africa. This entails establishing a Medical Advisory Board to ensure appropriate vision screening functions for driving and reliable vision screening technology. Specifically, this will include implementing a vision-related examiner's training programme with a certificate of competence, an electronic eye-testing interface, proactive equipment maintenance programmes, improved quality control mechanisms and standardisation of the vision screening process across all DLTCs.

Contribution: This study identified challenges to the effective implementation of vision screening for driving.