Dear Maaike,
I am a professional truck driver, and unfortunately, I suffered an eye infarction four months ago. I took a visual field test. It showed that I have 120% vision in my good eye and no vision at all in my other eye. The CBR has told me I’m not allowed to drive as a truck driver yet. I have a driving test next week. Do you know exactly what the rules are?
Best regards, R.
Dear R.,
It’s really unfortunate that you can’t return to your job yet. The CBR website has detailed information about driving with one eye. They also provide specific guidance for professional drivers. It says:
Stricter rules apply to a commercial driver’s license than to a license for a car, motorcycle, or tractor. If you have recently lost vision in one eye and hold a commercial driver’s license that you need for your job, you may be allowed to keep your license. To find out if this is possible, see an ophthalmologist. You’ll also need a statement from your employer confirming that your driver’s license is necessary for your job. The CBR will send this statement to you so your employer can fill it out. Based on this statement and the ophthalmologist’s recommendation, the CBR will determine whether you need to take a driving test.
If the driving test shows that you are fit to drive, you will receive either a bus driver’s license or a truck driver’s license. Whether you receive a license for a truck or a bus depends on which vehicle you drive for work. Your bus or truck driver’s license is valid only in a specific region. This region may cover the entire Netherlands at most. Your license is valid for up to 5 years. When your license expires, the CBR will reassess whether you can drive safely. This allows us to ensure that you can safely operate a bus or truck on the road.
You can find all the information (including information about driving a passenger car) on the CBR website.
It may also be helpful to contact the Koninklijke Visio Knowledge Center. They can provide you with tips on driving with one eye. Send an email to kennisportaal@visio.org or call 088 585 56 66.
Here are a few tips from the Visio website to help you get back to work:
- Check the side of your field of vision regularly to avoid blind spots.
- Look carefully into the distance. This will help you be better prepared for side roads or other obstacles on the side of the road that you can’t see.
- Use a panoramic mirror in your car to see behind you on the side where your field of vision is limited. A panoramic mirror provides a wide-angle view, giving you a better view of what’s happening behind you.
- Adjust your speed in busier situations or in situations where you need to keep an eye on a lot of things, such as a roundabout. After all, looking around takes more time.
Good luck on your driving test. Let me know how it went, okay?
Best regards,
Maaike
