As we are all aware, good eyesight is important to a driver. Countless articles have been written on this subject already. But readers have again and again written in to this blog to ask about it.

Today, this article will therefore emphasize on it, in the hope that it will end the queries so frequently asked.

Firstly, J.P.J. does not require you to undergo a medical examination. Nonetheless, it does however expect a potential driving student to possess good eyesight. To drive, a person has to be able to see clearly.

To see traffic lights, car approaching, people crossing the road, car whizzing by, signboards and road directions. Not forgetting also the traffic policeman directing traffic.

J.P.J. conducts a simple colour blind test during the Highway Code computer test which comprises of 50 questions.

The 8 question colour blind test will be faced by all candidates before they are allowed to sit for the 50 question section of the objective test.

It is necessary for a candidate to pass the colour blind test.

What happens if you are unable to pass this test?

Before I proceed to provide you with the answer to this question, allow me to tell you a little bit more about the colour blind test itself.

The test comprises of 8 simple questions actually.

Section A

A round circle or myriad colours with a number or diagram in the centre. You have to identify correctly what the number or diagram.

Section B

This section requires one to read or identify normal car registration number which are usually black and white.

Section C

This section goes on to test a candidate his capacity to identify major colours such as green, red and yellow.

To pass the colour blind test, all one candidate has to do is get 8/8 correct. It’s as simple as that!

But then, the problem with candidates is, some Fail.

The reasons why the fail may probably be:

i) That they possibly cannot identify the numbers asked

ii) Or that, especially among older candidates, that they are not competent enough to handle the computer

iii) Or maybe some candidates do not comprehend what the question is asking

iv) There are even some candidates who panicked and press the wrong key or answers on the computer itself, which eventually cause them to fail.

What if a candidate should fail this part of the colour blind test?

The candidate cannot then move on to the 50 questions Highway Code section.

The clerk in charge will then instruct the candidate to go to the nearest J.P.J. office to be interviewed by officials there.

You will first of all be provided a letter by the clerk itself. Obviously, a candidate who fails will face a whole lot of problems!

A candidate failing will incur much expenses and time in this process. Normally, the driving school operator will be the one to take you to the J.P.J. office. And he will, I assume, be charging you quite a sum for his services.

What will J.P.J. official advice you to do next?

You will be asked to go to the nearest government clinic to undergo an eye test. This test will be much simple then the computer test version.

Armed with the results, which normally a candidate will pass, you will then present it to the J.P.J. or the computer test centre. Which authority, I am uncertain. It’s best you ask the clinic for further advice.

There are some candidates who in spite of being given a much simpler version of the eye test still cannot see colours at all.

This is serious. The results is such candidates in reality cannot see any colours.

For this, the results of the eye test at the clinic will then have to be presented to the J.P.J. and it is they who will make the final decision as what to do next.

This elaborate description of the colour blind issue has been dealt with rather thoroughly and it hoped, in future no further queries will have to be raised again with regards to the problem.

Can You See Colour?

Prior to your sitting the 50 questions computer test of the Highway Code, an approximately 15 minutes exam will test the candidate for what is known as the “Colour Blind Test”.

The test comprises 8 questions. Only an 8 / 8 results will permit you to move on to the Computer Test next.

What happens if a candidate fails to get through the Colour Blind Test?

Getting Your Eyes Checked

Anyone failing the test would be given a letter asking him or her to go to the nearest J.P.J. office.

An officer there will interview you with regards to your problem regarding the colour blind issue.

You will then be given a letter requesting you to go to the nearest government clinic to do an eye test.

The Actual Test

What does the Colour Blind Test comprise of? Basically 3 types of questions are asked of the candidate.

The first is to test the ability of the candidate to distinguish a “Number” or “Diagram” within a myriad of colours.

This section is rather tricky. If you are unable to comprehend what has been explained thus far, kindly look at the examples of diagrams provided at the onset of this article.

The second type of questions tests the students’ ability to read “car registration” numbers, for example BXY 3850, BVY 8883 and so forth.

The final aspect of the test is a simple test of basic colours like Red, Green, Yellow and so forth. The ability to read basic colours is important.

Can’t See Colour – It’s Dangerous!

A driver has to be able to see and understand the functions of a “traffic light” system. Failure to do so will land the driver into accidents.

Quite a number of students find some difficulty in passing this “Colour Blind Test”. Some of the reasons why they fail are:

1) Command of Bahasa Malaysia or English being poor.

2) Inability to manipulate the computer well.

3) Some are extremely nervous.

As a last word of advice before signing off, I wish to remind potential students to “brush” up on their ability to use the computer.

This is essentially pertinent, especially to the older candidates.

Most driving schools operators have computer sets in their offices nowadays. Make arrangements to better yourselves in handling the computer well. Some extra time spent at the driving operators’ office will pay off eventually.

Best of luck in your attempt to pass the “Colour Blind Test”.