Vision Requirements for Ontario Drivers

Wants to know vision requirements for Ontario drivers?

According to the Ministry of Transportation (MOT), you must meet specific mandatory vision standards to be licensed to drive in Ontario. Passing a vision test signals that you have met the minimum vision requirements for driving in Ontario as set out in Ontario Regulation 340/94.

The vision test is mandatory for obtaining a driver’s licence in Ontario for the first time and during subsequent licence renewal. It’s an integral step in the licence approval process, as you need reliable eyesight to ensure road safety by accurately perceiving road and surrounding conditions and making some decisions on the fly.

The first time you apply for a G1 (car) or M1 (motorcycle) driving licence, vision specialists will assess your suitability by screening your vision with both eyes open and examined together.  Although the screening can be done with or without corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses, an ‘x’ will be embedded on your license if you need glasses or contact lenses to meet the vision requirements.

On the other hand, if you have vision in only one eye for any reason, such as injury, childhood amblyopia, or eye defects like macular degeneration, among other reasons, the screening will assess only the functioning eye.

Vision Requirements for Class G and M Driving Licences in Ontario

To pass the eye test for a class G or M (car and motorcycle) driving licence, you must meet these visual provisions:

• Visual acuity of not less than 20/50
• The horizontal visual field should be at least 120 continuous degrees along the horizontal axis, with 15 degrees above and below fixation (visual axis).

However, you are eligible to apply for a class G licence vision requirements waiver in case you don’t meet the requisite peripheral vision standard (120-degree horizontal visual field) if you satisfy the following conditions:

• You satisfy all other requirements for your licence class
• Your driving record doesn’t reflect more than six demerit points
• You don’t have any disability, medical, or visual condition that can significantly impact your capacity to drive safely, individually or combined with your reduced visual field.
• Your licence hasn’t been suspended within the past five years, citing Highway Traffic Act convictions.
• Your licence hasn’t been suspended within the last five years for a criminal code conviction arising from an offence committed with a motor vehicle.
• You haven’t been involved in a collision with an associated conviction for certain offences under the Highway Traffic Act within the last five years.

Nevertheless, you’ll still need to meet these extra requirements:

• Provide a satisfactory and approved medical report
• Present an acceptable vision assessment report from a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist
• Satisfactorily complete a functional assessment, including standardised clinic and road tests in an approved assessment centre for Class G licence vision waivers.

Vision Requirements for Class A, C, D, or F licence Driving Licences in Ontario

Besides requiring frequent medical checkups, specialty licences including class A (semi), B (school bus), C (commercial bus), D (truck weighing more than 11,000Kg), E (24-passenger van), and F (ambulance) have more stringent vision requirements due to the vehicles’ heightened sensitivity and safety concerns. To qualify for these specialty licences, you must meet these vision requirements:

• Visual acuity of at least 20/30 with both eyes open and examined together and not poorer than 20/100 in the weaker eye, with or without corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses
• Horizontal visual field of not less than 150 continuous degrees and 20 continuous degrees above and below the visual axis.

Fortunately, you may be eligible for a waiver on the vision requirements for class A, C, D, or F licences in Ontario if:

• You satisfactorily meet all other requirements for the licence
• Your driving licence has been valid and active over the last two years
• Your driving record doesn’t have more than two demerit points
• Your driving licence hasn’t suffered suspension within the past five years due to certain Highway Traffic Act
• Your licence hasn’t been suspended within the last five years due to a Criminal Code conviction accruing from an offence committed with a motor vehicle.
• You haven’t been implicated in a collision with a related conviction under the Highway Traffic Act for certain offences within the past five years.
• Your licence hasn’t been suspended within the last five years owing to an administrative roadside sanction under the Highway Traffic Act sections 48, 48.0.1, 48.0.2, 48.0.3, 48.0.4, 48.1, 48.2.1, 48.2.2, 48.3 or 48.3.1
• You lack a disability, medical, or visual condition that has the potential to significantly impair your driving capacity, either alone or combined with your reduced vision.

Nonetheless, you’ll still need to satisfy these conditions to qualify for the vision requirements waiver:

• Avail a satisfactory medical report from an approved medical specialist
• Present an acceptable vision assessment from an accredited optometrist or ophthalmologist

Satisfactorily complete functional driving assessments (including clinic and road tests) for a commercial licence vision waiver from an approved assessment centre.

Contact Yusra Driving School a driving school in Toronto for more information.