Background

The visual requirements for a competition racing driver's licence as stated by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) are: a visual acuity of 6/9 or better in each eye, a peripheral visual field of 200°, and functional stereopsis.1 The field requirement appears to be based historically on Traquair and Roenne's data concerning the size of the normal visual field.2 The required level of stereopsis is undefined and open to interpretation. CAMS rules state that monocularity is an absolute bar to the granting of a licence.1

A CAMS medical practitioner examined an applicant whose right eye had been enucleated at age 2 because of a retinoblastoma. The application was successful and in the following season he competed in 24 practice events and races, finishing towards the back of the field, but completing the season with only one incident. In his third race he had a false start and for seven laps failed to see and act on the resulting penalty flags, which were being waved on his normally sighted left side.

Shortly after a second medical examination at the end of the season, he was informed that because of his monocularity his licence was revoked forthwith. Following an unsuccessful appeal, he lodged a complaint in the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission alleging unfair discrimination because of his disability. CAMS argued in defence that he was not reasonably capable of performing the actions required of him in relation to motor racing.

Motor racing is inherently dangerous3 and driver vision is critical to the safe operation of a racing car. However, the literature contains no evidence regarding the visual requirements of a racing driver and all the evidence presented to the commission related to driving on the road or simulated road driving. These studies are unhelpful in …