Safe driving requires good vision. Your drivers need to take responsibility for monitoring their own eyesight and keeping any corrective lens prescriptions current. With declining vision, responses to signals, signs and changing traffic conditions become slower.

The Maryland DOT Motor Vehicle Administration has compiled a list of warning signs and corrective responses to help drivers maintain good vision. You may want to pass this along to your drivers as a friendly reminder.

Warning Signs:

• You have problems reading highway or street signs, or recognizing someone you know across the street.

• You have trouble seeing lane lines and other pavement markings, curbs and medians, and other vehicles and pedestrians -- especially at dusk or dawn and at night.

• You are experiencing more discomfort from the glare of oncoming headlights at night.

What You Can Do:

• Make sure your corrective lenses have a current prescription, and always wear them. If you lose or break your glasses, don't rely on an old pair. Replace them right away with your new prescription.

• Do not wear sunglasses or tinted lenses at night. This reduces the amount of light that reaches your eyes and makes driving much more hazardous.

• Keep your windshield and headlights clean, and make sure your headlight aim is checked when your vehicle is inspected.

• Sit high enough in your seat so that you can see the road within 10 feet in front of your car. This will make a big difference in reducing the amount of glare you experience from opposing headlights at night. Use a cushion if your car seats don't have vertical adjustment.

• People age 61 and older should see an optometrist or ophthalmologist every year to check for cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and other conditions for which we are at greater risk when we grow older.