Coroner’s call for older driver eye tests after fatal crashes

An inquest into the deaths of 4 folks killed by drivers with failing eyesight has discovered enforcement of visible authorized requirements for motorists is “ineffective and unsafe”.

HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire Dr James Adeley has despatched a report back to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to say motion must be taken to forestall future deaths.

He labelled the licensing system because the “laxest in Europe” as he identified the UK was certainly one of solely three international locations to depend on self-reporting of visible situations affecting the flexibility to drive.

A supply near the transport secretary stated the federal government accepted the foundations “should be reassessed”.

They added: “We aren’t ruling something out concerning adjustments to eyesight necessities for driving.

“This might be thought of together with wider efforts to enhance security as a part of the federal government’s highway security technique.”

It’s thought the technique might be revealed by the top of the 12 months, after which ministers would seek the advice of on any proposed adjustments.

Dr Adeley stated it was regarding that the UK was the one European nation to concern licences with none visible checks for a steady interval as much as the age of 70.

He made the remarks on the inquests of Marie Cunningham, 79, Grace Foulds, 85, Peter Westwell, 80, and Anne Ferguson, 75, held earlier at Preston Coroner’s Courtroom.

Associates Mrs Cunningham and Mrs Foulds had been struck by Glyn Jones, 68, in his Audi A3 as they crossed the highway in Southport, Merseyside, on 30 November 2021.

Jones was conscious for some years earlier than the collision that his sight was inadequate to fulfill the minimal requirement to drive a automobile however did not declare it to the Driving and Automobile Licensing Company (DVLA).

When he was jailed for seven years and 4 months, his sentencing listening to was instructed he couldn’t even see his steering wheel clearly.

Mr Westwell was hit by Neil Pemberton, 81, as he crossed the highway in Langho, close to Blackburn, on 17 March 2022.

Pemberton, who was jailed for 32 months, had a protracted historical past of eye illness and was knowledgeable on a number of events by completely different clinicians that he shouldn’t drive, the inquest heard.

He additionally repeatedly did not declare his sight deficit on a number of licence functions to the DVLA.

Mrs Ferguson died when she was struck by a van pushed by Vernon Regulation, 72, in Whitworth, Rochdale, on 11 July 2023.

A month earlier than Regulation was instructed he had cataracts in each eyes however he lied to an optometrist that he didn’t drive.

Regulation, who was jailed for 4 years, knew he had issues together with his eyes for years earlier than the collision however his sight loss may simply have been corrected.

Regulation additionally did not declare his sight points on a number of licence functions to the DVLA, the inquest at County Corridor heard.

Following the inquests, the household of Mrs Cunningham stated: “Our mum, and her pal, had been killed by the egocentric, reckless actions of Glyn Jones.

“His determination to place his personal comfort earlier than the regulation, earlier than ethics, earlier than human lives, value our household the whole lot.

“This tragedy was not inevitable. It was totally avoidable.

“And we’re left grappling with the painful reality that if this man had acted responsibly our mum would nonetheless be with us.”

Terry Wilcox, of Hudgell Solicitors, representing the households of Mrs Cunningham, Mrs Foulds and Mr Westwell, stated loop holes which might be out there for drivers who wish to evade reporting on their eyesight are “jaw-dropping”.

He stated: “Individuals ignore what they’re instructed when it does not swimsuit their life-style, and in actuality there’s nothing in place to cease egocentric folks placing others in danger by getting again behind the wheel.

“We presently have a system below which the DVLA depends upon drivers to self-report, hand over their licence and cease driving once they’ve been instructed by a professional healthcare skilled that their eyesight is to not the required commonplace.

“This inquest has proven that merely does not occur.”

Dr Adeley stated: “The 4 fatalities shared the identical function that the motive force’s sight was effectively under the usual required to drive a automobile.

“The present system for ‘guaranteeing’ drivers meet the visible authorized requirements is ineffective, unsafe and unfit to fulfill the wants of society as evidenced by the deaths of Marie Cunningham, Grace Foulds, Anne Ferguson and Peter Westwell the place the DVLA continued to offer licences to drivers who had failed to fulfill the authorized sight necessities.”

The Division for Transport stated it will think about the coroner’s report as soon as acquired.

A spokesperson added: “The NHS recommends adults ought to have their eyes examined each two years and drivers are legally required to tell the DVLA if they’ve a situation which impacts their eyesight.

“We’re dedicated to bettering highway security and proceed to discover methods to realize this.”

Rob Heard, chairman of the Older Drivers’ Discussion board, warned that extra folks would die if adjustments weren’t made quickly.

He referred to as for it to be made obligatory for opticians and GPs to verify an individual’s eyesight as soon as they flip 70, and inform the DVLA through a web-based system with out the “fear of breaching affected person confidentiality”.

“A automobile is a deadly weapon and we should be totally in management and protected on the roads to have the ability to management it,” he stated.

Mr Wilcox stated there’s at the moment no infrastructure for IT which might enable a sight take a look at to be uploaded to the DVLA.

“You could be instructed the automobile is unsafe however a driver is rarely instructed they’re unsafe and the DVLA aren’t knowledgeable – the motive force is unsafe,” he stated.

“Drivers are the answer and but we do not seem to have something in place to resolve the issue.”