MPs back coroner's call to end eyesight self-certification for drivers

Last week, a joint inquest was held into the deaths of Peter Westwell, Grace Foulds, Ann Ferguson, and Marie Francis Cunningham, all of whom were killed in separate incidents in and around Lancashire.

All four were struck by motorists who carried on driving despite serious vision impairments, which meant they should never have been on the road.

Neil Pemberton, 81, killed Clitheroe resident Peter Westwell, and was noted as having lied to the DVLA for years, and carried on driving despite being told not to.

Peter Westwell was struck down by Neil Pemberton (Image: Lancashire Constabulary) Coroner James Adeley concluded that the drivers announcing themselves as fit to drive were unsafe, a point that was “amply demonstrated by the four deaths” heard during the inquest.

Dr Adeley sent a Prevent Future Deaths report to the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexandra, to take action to safeguard people from dangerous driving.

MP for Blackburn Adnan Hussain said that he would be joining Dr Adeley in writing to the Secretary of State for Transport and echoing his recommendation for changes to legislation.

READ MORE: Inquest opens into the deaths of four Lancastrians killed by blind drivers

READ MORE: Coroner says elderly killer driver proves self-diagnosing eyesight failed system

He said: “As the tragic case of the death of Peter Westwell shows, self-certifying eyesight for driving presents a significant safety risk, particularly for older drivers, and other road users, as a consequence.

“I think more robust systems, such as mandatory eyesight tests are necessary, particularly for older drivers in order to ensure the legal standard is met.

“The DVLA, in particular, should play a more active role in verifying driver eyesight, through more frequent testing, and also direct collaborations with healthcare professionals, in order to prevent the sort of deception apparent in this case, whereby Mr Pemberton was able to lie to both his healthcare professionals and the DVLA, resulting in him continuing to drive, when clearly he was unfit for the road.

“Cases of this nature are tragic, and a reminder of some of the daily dangers faced by road users, all necessary steps must be taken to alleviate such dangers.

“I shall, therefore, reinforce Coroner James Adeley's efforts by also writing to the Secretary of State for Transport and echoing Dr Adeley's recommendation for changes to legislation on drivers self-declaring their capability to drive.”

MP for Darwen and Rossendale Andy MacNae, who chairs the national road safety strategy, says that this was a big area of concern and part of a broader approach to a zero-tolerance policy towards road deaths.

However, he did raise that older people have become reliant on their cars and in places where there is inadequate public transport, people were at higher risk of falling victim to drivers with deficient eyesight.

He said: “Every road death is a tragedy, but every road death is preventable if you get everything right in the lead up to it.

“We have people who are reliant on their car, to get where they need to go, and there is inadequate public transport.

“So sorting out rural bus networks and getting them into areas where older people live and are isolated, and there is a lot of work going into that.  

“I can understand how someone goes I can't see where I am going, but I can't get where they need to be.”

The coroner highlighted that, despite no change in the size of the population, the DVLA's reporting system, or the number of people being diagnosed with eye conditions, there has been a 25 per cent drop in the number of poor eyesight cases reported to the DVLA in recent years.

He also noted that in 2023, 2.2 per cent of drivers failed roadside eye tests—equating to roughly 920,000 drivers when projected across the full driving population—yet this figure remains significantly underreported.

Culture minister Lisa Nandy was asked about whether the government would adapt the law regarding the coroner’s report during a visit to Ballenden Community Primary School, in Rawtenstall.

She said: “I don’t want to put words in the transport secretary's mouth, but I am sure that she will look closely at the coroner’s report and recommendations and keeping people safe on the roads it is absolutely central.

“We have a mission to make streets safer so people can be out in the community, a lot of that is around crime and policing and creating better environments in town centres and in the community, so people can be out and about.

“Keeping people safe from dangerous driving is central to that.”

Maya Ellis, MP for the Ribble Valley added that one death on the roads is one too many and that James Adeley was right to bring it to the attention of the government. 

She also highlighted the government's new Road Safety Strategy, which will be published later this year. 

Ms Ellis said: "

I believe one death on our roads is one too many and improving road safety is vitally important.

“HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire Dr James Adeley is right to bring the issue to the attention of the Department for Transport to prevent future deaths on our roads.

“I am confident the Government will carefully consider his report and use the findings as part of commitment to improve road safety. These efforts include a new Road Safety Strategy, the first in over a decade, which we hope could be published later this year.

"Road safety is a major concern of residents across Ribble Valley and I am regularly contacted about the lack of crossings on our increasingly busy roads.

"This is something that I am urgently pursuing with Lancashire County Council and in national policy.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson said it would consider the coroner’s report once received and reiterated that the NHS recommends people to get their eyes tested every two years.

They also added that drivers are legally required to inform the DVLA if they have a condition which affects their eyesight.