Visual assessment of commercial drivers in the South West Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Background Driving is a visually intensive task. In Cameroon, where the burden of road traffic deaths is high, visual assessment is not universally performed before the issuance of driver licenses. This study aims to assess the visual status of commercial drivers (CDs) in the southwestern region of Cameroon, and to find its relation to road traffic crashes (RTCs). Methods This work was a cross-sectional community-based study on CDs in Limbe and Buea. Questionnaires were used to assess sociodemographic parameters, the incidence of RTCs, and self-reported visual status. Visual acuity (VA) was measured using a standard Snellen chart at 6 m. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive methods: frequencies, the paired Student’s t-test, and the chi-square test. Results Two hundred seven CDs were enrolled in this study, all of which were male, with a mean age of 41.8 ± 12.1 years. A total of 15.0% had undergone an eye exam prior to licensure, and 3.4% had undergone an eye exam within the past 10 years. The VA in the better-seeing eye of participants was less than 6/9 and 6/12 in 14.1 and 10.6% of CDs, respectively. Seventy-five percent of CDs with self-reported poor vision and 95% of CDs with VA < 0.5 had a history of RTCs compared to 55.8% of CDs with self-reported good vision and 55.7% of CDs with VA ≥ 0.5 (p < 0.05). Injuries from RTCs were more common in CDs with self-reported poor vision (81.1%) and in those with VA < 0.5 (90.5%) compared to CDs who self-reported good vision (55.8%) and those with VA ≥ 0.5 (55.7%) (p < 0.05). Conclusions A large proportion of CDs did not undergo a visual assessment before the issuance or renewal of their driver licenses. A substantial number of CDs had poor vision in their better-seeing eye and suffered from RTCs and related injuries, which suggests that the visual status of CDs in Cameroon is related to the gruesome number of road traffic crashes and deaths in the country. Therefore, concerned authorities should consider making vision tests a necessary requirement for the obtention of driver licenses.

Refractive errors, road traffic accidents and long-term spectacle compliance amongst commercial taxi drivers in a major North-East Indian city

“…[ 25 26 27 28 29 ] Two recent studies from Africa have reported a strong association between poor vision among drivers and RTA. [ 22 28 ] Findings from our study highlight a clear and significant association between RE and RTA. CTDs with any type of RE in at least one eye had the highest odds of experiencing RTAs.…”

“…[ 11 ] Most of the scientific evidence on the ocular morbidities including RE among commercial drivers emanate from African countries which report a RE prevalence ranging from 30% to 60%. [ 4 20 21 22 23 24 ] Higher rates of RE reported in all of these various studies, including ours, make CTDs a priority group for targeted eye-care interventions. Owing to their constant mobile and busy lifestyles, CTDs are quite often unable to utilize the existing health care systems.…”

Associations between vision impairment and vision-related interventions on crash risk and driving cessation: systematic review and meta-analysis

“…VA (28 studies, n=39 129) was not found to be associated with crash involvement by 19 studies,17 20 22 24 27–29 31 33–36 38 40 41 45 50–54 57 63 68 69 73 75 77 80 irrespective of crash scenario (at fault or not at fault) and severity (injurious or non-injurious). Bilateral VA 20/40 or worse may impact risk of MVCs (meta-analysis five studies; RR 1.21 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.43); p=0.03) 27 31 40 73 77.…”

“…Raw data on studies reporting on MVCs15–81 and driving cessation70–73 82–115 can be found in online supplemental appendix 4A,B, respectively, with additional narrative summaries. Meta-analyses on associations are presented in online supplemental appendix 5A,B; only 25 studies could be meta-analysed.…”

“…Nineteen studies (n=1 00 167) reported on other impairments including: unilateral vision impairment,18 general vision impairment,21 25 28 39 41 59 61 74 76 80 81 non-DR,41 retinal detachment,72 other retinal disorders,41 refractive disorder,41 monocular vision impairment,41 50 presbyopia,41 74 hyperopia,22 74 amblyopia,18 60 diplopia,41 astigmatism,22 41 retinitis pigmentosa26 and stereoacuity 54 73. Most did not find associations with MVCs; however, one study from the USA reported increased injurious MVC involvement with impaired stereoacuity 54.…”