[Status of the visual system in operators causing railway accidents]

One hundred and eighty four engine-drivers aged 21-60 years were examined; 91 from them provoked an accident not stopping the train in front of the "Stop" signal; 93 constituted a control group. Compared was the status of the visual system and the efficiency of the visual functions such as: binocular vision, color vision and asthenopia, mesopic vision and the sensitivity to glare. In engine-drivers of the "accident-prone" group one observed an increased sensitivity for glare. The authors suggest it would be necessary to introduce to the qualification examinations for engine-drivers the evaluation of the sensitivity to glare and of the visual ability in mesopic conditions.