Tragedies lead to calls for driving licence changes

MILLIONS of drivers on UK roads would fail to meet the minimum eyesight standards, with a coroner calling on the government to make changes to the current system of issuing driving licences.

- BY AMY FENTON

Anne Ferguson, from Whitworth, Mary Cunningham, Grace Foulds and Peter Westwell were all killed by older drivers who had failing eyesight and had ignored warnings that their vision was not good enough to get behind the wheel of a car.

In July 2023, Anne, 75, died at the side of the road after she was hit by a car being driven by Vernon Law just yards from her home in Whitworth.

Law, 72, who had severe cataracts, had been told his eyesight did not meet the required standard for driving. Anne's husband, who relied on her for his care needs, took his own life as a direct result of her death.

Mary and Grace died after they were hit by a white Audi being driven by Glyn Jones in Lulworth Road, Southport, on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. The two friends were returning from a shopping trip when Jones, who had repeatedly been warned his eyesight did not meet the required legal standard, slammed into them.

The following March, Peter Westwell, 80, was killed when 81-year-old Neil Pemberton smashed into him at 48mph in a 30mph area of Langho. Pemberton's vision was so bad he could “barely see beyond the end of his bonnet” and he had been told on 35 occasions his eyesight was not good enough to drive.