It has now emerged that one out of 10 long distance truck drivers have poor vision and should not be driving on the Kenyan highways.
According to a medical report released Thursday by the Kenya Transporters Association (KTA), most drivers have cataracts, glaucoma and refractive errors, therefore are not recommended to continue driving.
A free medical camp held between February 6 and 10 at Bonje, Miritini in Mombasa county, saw 678 commercial drivers tested.
Out of the 678 some 72 (10.7 per cent), had poor vision. Out of the 72 drivers, 11 had cataracts (1.62%), two had glaucoma (0.29%) and refractive errors, 59 (8.7%).
KTA has recommended that the government immediately operationalises the Traffic Act CAP 403 Section 105A, which makes it mandatory for drivers to undergo a physical fitness test. This includes an eye and hearing test by a qualified medical practitioner before renewal/issuance of driving licenses.
“The government and National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) should immediately conduct a national wide medical checkup on all drivers as an effort towards making our roads safer,” said KTA chairman Newton Wangoo.
The report was prepared by Dr Fredrick Korir, the medical director Lighthouse For Christ Eye Centre.
Wangoo urged transporters and employers to make medical reports part of driver recruitment process.
He added that medical checkup of drivers should be a mandatory part of inspection and investigation after every accident.
As per the NTSA records, 4,690 people lost their lives in 2022 through road accidents in Kenya.
“Consequently, we take a big risk when we do not make drivers' medical and vision testing part of our driver requirement before allowing them to drive on our roads,” Wangoo said.
Several tests were conducted on the drivers including vision and eye test, diabetes screening by blood sugar test as well as hypertension screening by blood pressure measurements.
The report revealed that 393 (57.96%) out of the 678 drivers diagnosed, were found to be normal with good vision and did not need further evaluation.
However, 34 (5%) of the drivers were either diabetic, with 8 (1.18%) being hypertensive, and another 26 (3.83%) being either diabetic or hypertensive without their knowledge.
Another 115 (16.96%) out of the 678 drivers were referred to either Lighthouse or other clinics for further examination and treatment.
“Majority of drivers diagnosed with presbyopia (poor near vision) were over the age of 40. Some of them were given reading glasses while others were referred to Lighthouse for further examinations,” Wangoo said.
Other sight diagnosis conducted on the driver's included glaucoma, cataract, presbyopia, refractive error, dry eye syndrome (DES) and conjuvitis.
Glaucoma according to Dr Korir affects the field of vision by limiting driver’s ability to see the sides of the vehicle like side mirror.
Cataract he said in the report causes clouding of vision and significantly reduces driver’s ability to see and drive safely as presbyopia is a condition in which near vision is poor.
“It is part of the aging process and normally starts at the age of 40. It does not affect distance vision and thus does not affect driving and can be corrected with reading glasses,” Korir said in the report.
Refractive error he said, is a vision problem that makes one not to see clearly. This requires one to be examined for the correct eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Dry eye syndrome on the other hand is a condition when the tears are not able to provide adequate lubrication to one’s eyes while conjunctivitis are conditions caused by infections or allergies that causes eyes itchiness or tearing of the eyes or redness.
-Edited by SKanyara