Copyright manchestereveningnews
The Government has issued a response to consistent calls from a number of motoring authorities to introduce mandatory eye tests for drivers over the age of 70. For months now, road safety groups have proposed the measure , following a rise in deaths relating to drivers with failing eyesight. Earlier this year, HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire , Dr James Adeley, published a prevention of future death report relating to the deaths of four people killed by drivers with failing eyesight. Dr Adeley sent a report to the Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, to say action should be taken. He labelled the licensing system for drivers 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 also expressed concern 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. Currently, drivers are not subjected to mandatory checks of their health once they obtain their licence, no matter how old they are. While all licence holders are legally required to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if they are no longer fit to drive, many fail to do so or ignore the deterioration of their health. Last year, 1,633 people were killed and almost 28,000 seriously injured in traffic incidents. Numbers have remained relatively constant following a large fall between 2000 and 2010. In the House of Commons last month, Vikki Slade, a Lib Dem MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, asked the Secretary of State for Transport if an assessment would be made of the potential merits of requiring all drivers to submit a recent eye test result when applying for a driving license renewal. Simon Lightwood, replying on behalf of Ms Alexander, said: "All drivers, regardless of age, have a legal responsibility to inform the DVLA if they develop a medical condition that may affect their ability to drive. "The Government is considering the current process of self-declaration and the challenges posed by an ageing population where certain conditions, including vision conditions, may become more prevalent." The MP for Wakefield and Rothwell added: "In the meantime, the current renewal at age 70 process remains as is, and drivers must legally declare any vision or medical conditions that may affect their ability to drive. "Any options for change will be subject to public consultation."
