Elderly drivers could face compulsory eyesight tests after motorists 'lied to the DVLA', coroner warns

A report to prevent future deaths has been sent to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, which described the system to keep motorists with impaired vision off the road as "ineffective".

Dr Adeley found that four people - Marie Cunningham, 79, Grace Foulds, 85, Peter Westwell, 80, and 75-year-old Anne Ferguson - were killed by drivers whose vision was below the minimum requirements to get behind the wheel.

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He described the licensing system for drivers as the "laxest in Europe", adding that the UK was only one of three countries relying upon self-reporting of visual conditions affecting driving ability.

Mrs Cunningham and Mrs Foulds were struck and killed by Glyn Jones, 68, in 2021. Jones had reportedly been aware that his vision was falling short of minimum standards but failed to declare it to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVLA).

Jones was jailed for seven years and four months. At the sentencing hearing, it was said that the driver could not even see his steering wheel clearly.

Mr Westwell was killed by an 81-year-old who had a long history of eye disease and had been told by different clinicians that he should not drive. Despite this, the driver continued on the road and failed to declare the issue to the DVLA.

The fourth victim included in the joint inquest, Mrs Ferguson, died after being hit by a van driven by a 72-year-old with cataracts in both eyes.

The driver lied to an optometrist, saying that he did not drive. He was eventually sentenced to four years.

The report stated: "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.

"We have heard during this inquest of systematic failings that allow drivers with deficient eyesight to continue to drive by simply lying to the DVLA. We have heard statements from various independent experts that suggest that the problem of driving with substandard eyesight is much worse than what the authorities would like you to believe.

"It is evident that changes need to be made to the systems that allowed this to happen. We strongly urge the DVLA and the relevant bodies to do something urgently to address this matter."

Motorists are required to renew their licence every three years when they reach 70 years of age, and are required to self-certify whether they are safe to stay behind the wheel.

The minimum standard of vision for driving states that drivers must be able to read a car number plate made after 2001 from 20 metres. They must also have a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) measured on the Snellen scale.

Rob Heard, chairman of the Older Drivers' Forum, warned that there could be an increase in deaths on the road if rule changes were not introduced.

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The expert called for elderly drivers to face a compulsory eyesight test when they turn 70, the same age when they need to renew their licence more often.

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: "The NHS 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."