[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 35881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17233]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration
[FHWA Docket No. FHWA-97-2625]


Qualification of Drivers; Waiver Application; Vision

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of petition and intent to grant application for waiver; 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the FHWA's preliminary determination to 
grant the application of David R. Rauenhorst for a waiver of the vision 
requirements contained in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations 
(FMCSR). Granting the waiver will enable Mr. Rauenhorst to qualify as a 
driver of commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce without 
meeting the vision standard prescribed in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10).

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 1, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit written, signed comments to the docket number that 
appears in the heading of this document to the Docket Clerk, U.S. DOT 
Dockets, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-
0001. All comments received will be available for examination at the 
above address between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. Those desiring notification of receipt of 
comments must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope or postcard.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sandra Zywokarte, Office of Motor 
Carrier Research and Standards, (202) 366-1790, or Ms. Judy Rutledge, 
Office of Chief Counsel, (202) 366-0834, Federal Highway 
Administration, Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., 
e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: David R. Rauenhorst has applied for a waiver 
of the vision requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) which applies to 
drivers of commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce. Under 49 
U.S.C. 31136(e), the FHWA may waive application of the vision standard 
to Mr. Rauenhorst if the agency determines that the waiver is 
consistent with the public interest and the safe operation of 
commercial motor vehicles. Accordingly, the FHWA has evaluated Mr. 
Rauenhorst's application on its merits, as required by the decision in 
Rauenhorst v. United States Department of Transportation, Federal 
Highway Administration, 95 F.3d 715 (8th Cir. 1996), and made a 
preliminary determination that granting the waiver is consistent with 
the public interest and the safe operation of commercial motor 
vehicles.
    Mr. Rauenhorst has been self-employed as a commercial truck driver 
since 1974. In 1976, a non-driving accident caused him to sustain a 
retinal detachment in his right eye. This eye condition prevents Mr. 
Rauenhorst from meeting the vision requirement of 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) 
and, thus, renders him unqualified as a driver of commercial motor 
vehicles in interstate commerce unless application of the vision 
standard is waived.
    Medical reports for 1995, 1996, and 1997, indicate that Mr. 
Rauenhorst's eye condition is non-degenerative and that the vision in 
the right eye is stable and will not worsen. He has 20/20 corrected 
vision in his left eye, and, in his doctor's opinion, can safely 
operate a motor vehicle. Because the retinal detachment occurred in 
1976, Mr. Rauenhorst has had 21 years to adapt his driving skills to 
accommodate his vision deficiency. His driving experience and record 
demonstrate that he has successfully made this adaptation.
    Mr. Rauenhorst has driven tractor-trailer combinations more than 2 
million miles since 1974. In the last 10 years, he has driven 
approximately 1 million miles without an accident. Furthermore, his 
driving record for the last 3 years reflects no traffic violations and 
no accidents. He obtained his first commercial operator's license in 
1973 and currently holds a commercial driver's license (CDL) that was 
issued by the State of Minnesota in 1995 and is valid until 1999. 
During this lengthy driving career, his license to drive has never been 
suspended or revoked.
    Driving with his eye condition for 21 years, Mr. Rauenhorst has 
established a safe driving record that is persuasive evidence that he 
has adapted his driving skills to accommodate his vision deficiency. 
Accordingly, the FHWA believes that waiving application of 49 CFR 
391.41(b)(10) is consistent with the public interest and the safe 
operation of commercial motor vehicles, as long as Mr. Rauenhorst's 
vision does not deteriorate. As a condition of the waiver, therefore, 
the FHWA proposes to impose requirements that are consistent with the 
grandfathering provisions applied to drivers who participated in the 
vision waiver study program. Those requirements are found at 49 CFR 
391.64(b) and include the following conditions: (1) That Mr. Rauenhorst 
be physically examined every year, including an examination by an 
ophthalmologist or optometrist, attesting to the fact that (a) he is 
otherwise physically qualified under 49 CFR 391.41 and (b) his vision 
continues to measure at least 20/40 (Snellen) in the better eye; (2) 
that he provide a copy of the ophthalmologist or optometrist report to 
the medical examiner at the time of the annual medical examination; and 
(3) that he keep a copy of the annual medical certification in his 
driver qualification file as long as he is self-employed or provide a 
copy to his employer for retention in the driver's qualification file, 
and retain a copy of the certification on his person while driving for 
presentation to a duly authorized Federal, State, or local enforcement 
official.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 31136; 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued on: June 24, 1997
Jane F. Garvey,
Acting Administrator for the Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 97-17233 Filed 7-1-97; 8:45 am]
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