Government ‘considering’ call for all over 70s drivers to take test after report sent

A coroner has called into question not having a mandatory eye test for everyone who wants to drive at 70. An inquest into the deaths of four people killed by drivers with failing eyesight has found enforcement of visual legal standards for motorists is "ineffective and unsafe". HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire Dr James Adeley has sent a report to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to say action should be taken to prevent future deaths.

In a damning verdict he labelled the licensing system as the "laxest in Europe" as he pointed out the UK was one of only three countries to rely upon self-reporting of visual conditions affecting the ability to drive. Dr Adeley said it was also concerning that the UK was the only European country to issue licences without any visual checks for a continuous period up to the age of 70. The call echoes concerns raised by opticians at the standard of eyesight in people they come into contact with, the BBC reported[1].

Opticians have called for over 70s to get tested after a study showed that a startling proportion had found six in 10 of its members have seen a patient who is driving illegally within the past month. It estimates a tenth of the more than 30 million British motorists may have sub-standard vision - meaning three million could potentially lose their licence if the DVSA adopts the law change proposal. The Association of optometrists last year called for the law to be changed so that all drivers have their vision checked when they first apply for a driving license when renewing it and checks every three years for those over seventy.

The coroner made the remarks at the inquests of Marie Cunningham, 79, Grace Foulds, 85, Peter Westwell, 80, and Anne Ferguson, 75, held earlier at Preston Coroner's Court. Friends Mrs Cunningham and Mrs Foulds were struck by Glyn Jones, 68, in his Audi A3 as they crossed the road in Southport[2], Merseyside[3], on 30 November 2021. Jones was aware for some years before the collision that his sight was insufficient to meet the minimum requirement to drive a car but failed to declare it to the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

When he was jailed for seven years and four months, his sentencing hearing was told he could not even see his steering wheel clearly. Mr Westwell was hit by Neil Pemberton, 81, as he crossed the road in Langho, near Blackburn, on 17 March 2022. Pemberton, who was jailed for 32 months, had a long history of eye disease and was informed on several occasions by different clinicians that he should not drive, the inquest heard.

He also repeatedly failed to declare his sight deficit on multiple licence applications to the DVLA. Mrs Ferguson died when she was struck by a van driven by Vernon Law, 72, in Whitworth, Rochdale, on 11 July 2023. A month before Law was told he had cataracts in both eyes but he lied to an optometrist that he did not drive.

Law, who was jailed for four years, knew he had problems with his eyes for years before the collision but his sight loss could easily have been corrected. Law also failed to declare his sight issues on multiple licence applications to the DVLA, the inquest at County Hall heard. Dr Adeley said: "The four fatalities shared the same feature that the driver's sight was well below the standard required to drive a car.

The current system for 'ensuring' drivers meet the visual legal standards is ineffective, unsafe and unfit to meet the needs of society as evidenced by the deaths of Marie Cunningham, Grace Foulds, Anne Ferguson and Peter Westwell where the DVLA continued to provide licences to drivers who had failed to meet the legal sight requirements." The Department for Transport said it would consider the coroner's report once received. A spokesperson added: "The NHS[4] recommends adults should have their eyes tested every two years and drivers are legally required to inform the DVLA if they have a condition which affects their eyesight. "We are committed to improving road safety and continue to explore ways to achieve this."

Rob Heard, chairman of the Older Drivers' Forum, warned that more people would die if changes were not made soon. He called for it to be made compulsory for opticians and GPs to check a person's eyesight once they turn 70, and inform the DVLA via an online system without the "worry of breaching patient confidentiality". "A car is a lethal weapon and we need to be fully in control and safe on the roads to be able to control it," he said.

Mr Wilcox said there is currently no infrastructure for IT which would allow a sight test to be uploaded to the DVLA. "You can be told the car is unsafe but a driver is never told they are unsafe and the DVLA aren't informed - the driver is unsafe," he said. "Drivers are the solution and yet we don't appear to have anything in place to solve the problem." Chief executive of the Association of optometrists Adam Sampson, speaking about the survey results, said: "This is a stark reminder of why UK roads are not as safe as they should be." Surveys of 910 optometrists, medical experts who conduct eye tests and health checks, found half of them have multiple law-breaking patients.

Sight changes are gradual which means that many drivers are unaware that their vision has deteriorated. DVLA rules stipulate drivers should be able to read a numberplate from 66 feet (20m) away. They should also be able to read at least six rows of letters on the Snellen wall chart.

People must also report to the DVLA when they lose part or all of their sight. Professor Julie-Anne Little, past chair of the AOP, said: "Sight changes are gradual which means that many drivers are unaware that their vision has deteriorated over time. Having poor eyesight has been shown to slow reaction times and the ability to drive safely.

"It doesn't take much for one mistake to result in a serious collision with catastrophic consequences." Mr Sampson added: "The number plate test is not an adequate test of vision. The law should be updated to ensure all drivers are required to have their vision checked and this should be done by reliable means." Currently, drivers over 70 only need to self-certify their fitness to drive every three years, without medical approval, although they do need to renew their licence more often than other age groups.

Instead of mandatory retests, experts have suggested introducing a simple three-yearly "driver MOT" which involves a check-up focusing on reaction speed, eyesight and awareness.

This approach aims to maintain safety without forcing older drivers off the road.

For the government rules on eyesight standards click here[5].

References

1. ^ the BBC reported (www.bbc.co.uk)
2. ^ Southport (www.lancs.live)
3. ^ Merseyside (www.lancs.live)
4. ^ NHS (www.lancs.live)
5. ^ eyesight standards click here (www.gov.uk)