How can impaired vision affect driving performance?

Impaired vision significantly impacts driving performance, primarily by leading to delayed reaction times and misjudgment of distances. When a driver has difficulty seeing clearly, it becomes challenging to accurately assess the speed of oncoming vehicles, the distance between cars, and even the curvature of the road. This lack of clarity can slow down the ability to respond quickly to sudden changes in traffic conditions or obstacles, directly increasing the risk of accidents.

Moreover, visual impairments may cause drivers to misjudge how far away objects are or how fast they are approaching, resulting in poor decision-making when it comes to maneuvers like changing lanes, merging, or making turns. The combination of impaired judgment and slower reaction time can create dangerous driving situations, highlighting the critical importance of maintaining good vision for safe driving.

Other options fail to fully acknowledge the serious consequences of impaired vision, suggesting either a lack of impact or limitations that do not reflect the broad effect visual impairments have regardless of driving conditions, such as day versus night. Vision impairment cannot be easily compensated for while driving, especially under circumstances that require quick thinking and precise actions.