WPBN: By the first of the year, drivers in Kentucky will be required to pass an eye exam in order to renew their licenses.
After being enacted by the state legislature three years ago, House Bill 439 was finally signed into law by Governor Andy Beshear, and it is just now beginning to take effect three years later, at the beginning of 2025.
Those who are renewing their driver’s license in the state of Kentucky are required to undergo a vision test; however, this examination does not need to be scheduled separately; rather, it can be administered concurrently with the renewal process.
Alternatively, drivers have the option of requesting that their vision specialist conduct a test, and if they do so, they will supply you with a document that has been approved by the state.
It is free of charge if it is done at a KYTC office. A vision specialist might demand a fee if this is not the case.
So, what comes next if you are unable to pass the eyesight test?
“So should screening be performed at one of our regional offices and the driver not pass, we will refer them to see a vision specialist of their choice, and they can do a further evaluation and explore their options to see if there’s something that can be corrected,” Naitore Djigbenou, the KYTC public affairs executive director stated. “Sometimes it’s simple, just a pair of glasses or contact lenses, and they’re able to come in and complete that renewal process with us.”
If you already use glasses, you should bring them with you to your vision exam, according to KYTC.
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“We will just make a designation on your card that says that in order for you to drive that, you need to continue to wear those corrective lenses,” according to the representative.
In the state of Kentucky, the Kentucky State Police already conduct eye screenings for first-time drivers, and this practice will not change.
You will be required to undergo a second eyesight examination by KYTC with each renewal as a result of this new law. There are already statutes in place in other states, such as Ohio and Indiana, that are comparable to this one.
According to KYTC, all of this is being done for protection.
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“So safe driving requires good eyesight,” Djigbenou stated. “And that’s why it’s been a long, standing tradition to go ahead and get that test the first time you get your license.”
It is still possible to renew your vision insurance through the mail or online if you choose to visit an eye expert. You will only need to upload the form that has been approved by the state online.
The deadline for residents of Kentucky to obtain their Real IDs is in May. This means that you won’t be required to take a vision exam if you are only updating your normal license to a Real ID.
