Applicants for driver's licence to produce eye testing results from ophthalmologists, Optometrists –DVLA

In compliance with Regulation 29(5) of the Road Traffic Regulation, 2012(L.I. 2180), the Driver and Licencing Authority(DVLA) has noted that applicants for driver's licence are now required to produce an eye assessment result by a registered expert (Ophthalmologist or Optometrist).

According to the authority, this is to reinforce its mandate of promoting safety on the country’s roads.

This was made known by the Director of the Driver Training, Testing and Licencing at the DVLA, Kafui Semevo at a news brifing in Accra.

He noted that the process for testing has previously not been standardized because they were conducted by DVLA data entry staff who are not experts or professional Optometrists or ophthalmologists as required by the law.

Additionally, Mr Semevo said that the law regarding this requirement has been in place for a while however the Authority currently seeks to change its implementational approach in order to address weaknesses in the law to be at par with international best practices.

Further to the above, he indicated that the reforms will be in two phases and that the Authority has put measures in place to ensure their smooth implementation

Mr Semevo said that Phase one will comprise applicants in categories A, B and E and will start in June. Phase two according to him, would comprise applicants who wish to renew driver's licences, upgrades, foreign driver’s licence conversion, proficiency tests and others.

Moreover, he mentioned that the reforms are also meant to help drivers with eye problems by helping to recommend treatment for them and added that prospective applicants and existing drivers will be required to pay GHC 70 and GHC 50 respectively.