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Have a relative you think is unfit to drive? Family members may soon be able to make referrals to the Medical Review Board

Josh James
/
WUKY

With a new eye exam requirement in driver's licensing about to take effect, Kentucky lawmakers are raising questions about the change — and the process for removing a license from someone deemed unfit to drive.

Kentucky is one of only a handful of states that hasn't implemented such vision standards for drivers licenses. Sen. Jimmy Higdon made a note of that at the beginning of testimony before Kentucky committee this week.

"Our standards in Kentucky... we could pretty much stood alone for our vision standards," he said.

The soon-to-be mandated eye exam for driver's licenses has drawn some criticism as the start date approaches in January, with GOP representative Savannah Mannix calling it "nanny state hogwash" and "another lobbyist-driven bill that will cost Kentuckians time and money."


But the issue has generated other debates and proposed changes. One deals with who should be authorized to request a medical review of someone's fitness to drive. In the past, the answer has been: anyone in government, any medical professional or law enforcement official.

Higgins said revisions to rules and regulations would change that, scrapping the ability of any government official to make the request, but adding a route for concerned family members.

"If two citizens, if two family members, have a family member that doesn't need to be driving, they together can sign a sworn affidavit about the family member's condition and send that to Medical Review Board or any medical professional or law enforcement professional. (They) would be the only ones that can report a person to the Medical Review Board," the senator explained.

While the vision test requirement is set to take effect January 1, 2025, it remains to be seen if critics will push for any changes in the upcoming session.

Josh James fell in love with college radio at Western Kentucky University's student station, New Rock 92 (now Revolution 91.7). After working as a DJ and program director, he knew he wanted to come home to Lexington and try his hand in public radio.