The visual requirements for driving in Alberta depend on which class of license you have.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the question of “can you drive with one eye in Alberta?”.
Can you drive with one eye in Alberta?
In general, you can drive with one eye if it provides good enough vision for the class of license you have.
In Alberta, there are seven distinct classes of driver’s licenses, each encompassing its own set of minimum eyesight criteria. These standards must be met in order to qualify for the various license types:
Class 1 (Professional License for all vehicle types): Vision of 20/30 with both eyes open; weaker eye must have a vision of no less than 20/100.
Class 2 (Buses): Vision of 20/30 with both eyes open; weaker eye must have a vision of no less than 20/100.
Class 3 (3-Axle Vehicles): Vision of 20/30 with both eyes open; weaker eye must have a vision of no less than 20/100.
Class 4 (Taxi): Vision of 20/40 with both eyes open; weaker eye must have a vision of no less than 20/200.
Class 5 (Standard Driver’s License): Vision of 20/50 with both eyes open; weaker eye must have a vision of no less than 20/200.
Class 6 (Motorcycle/Moped): Vision of 20/50 with both eyes open; weaker eye must have a vision of no less than 20/200.
Class 7 (Learner’s Permit): Vision of 20/50 with both eyes open; weaker eye must have a vision of no less than 20/200.
For professional licenses, meeting the criteria also entails having a horizontal visual field of at least 150 degrees and a vertical visual field of 20 degrees above or beside a fixed point. Standard licenses, on the other hand, necessitate a horizontal visual field of 120 degrees and a vertical visual field of 15 degrees.
In Summary
- It is legal in Alberta to drive with one eye, if the one eye meets the visual requirements for that class of license.
- Each license class has different criteria for visual ability, regardless of one eye or two.
