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Wales Online
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Wales Online
Over 70s are 'not legally allowed to drive' if they commit licence mistake
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Drivers over 70 who fail to renew their licences are being warned that they are "not legally allowed to drive". Age UK emphasised that the DVLA is supposed to dispatch a D46P application form 90 days before one's 70th birthday, to ensure the continuity of lawful driving. If you let your licence lapse without applying for a renewal, be aware that you won't be legally entitled to drive. The charity advises: "Don't forget to apply for any extra categories of vehicle covered on your old licence if you still want to be able to drive them." Moreover, they caution: "There might be extra costs for these but if you don't apply for these extra categories you'll only be able to drive a car in future." The guidance has been issued amid discussions that seniors should have routine MOTs and health checks. Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community It has also sparked some frustration among drivers, with one saying: "Look, I already have annual eyetests every November. Is it suggested I would need yet another one 4 months later when my licence needs renewal and just how is it the responsibility of the opticians to report their findings to the DVLC, and who pays for that," reports BirminghamLive. "Much better idea, carry out regular stop and search checks and pick off the no licence? No insurance cover? and the many drug taking drivers. Who incidentally are unlikely to be fed 70 plus." Driving safety standards were also put into question by Dr James Adeley, HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire, who labelled the current visual legal requirements as "ineffective and unsafe" following four separate deaths. He added: "Doing nothing means the risk of more avoidable deaths and life-changing injuries remains, caused by people whose quality of vision means they should no longer be driving." Dr Adeley said: "The four fatalities shared the same feature that the driver's sight was well below the standard required to drive a car." He added: "The current system for 'ensuring' drivers meet the visual legal standards is ineffective, unsafe and unfit to meet the needs of society as evidenced by the deaths of Marie Cunningham, Grace Foulds, Anne Ferguson and Peter Westwell where the DVLA continued to provide licences to drivers who had failed to meet the legal sight requirements." Find out what's happening near you
North Wales Live
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- North Wales Live
Over 70s are 'not legally allowed to drive' if they commit licence mistake
Drivers over 70 who fail to renew their licences are being warned that they are "not legally allowed to drive". Age UK emphasised that the DVLA is supposed to dispatch a D46P application form 90 days before one's 70th birthday, to ensure the continuity of lawful driving. If you let your licence lapse without applying for a renewal, be aware that you won't be legally entitled to drive. The charity advises: "Don't forget to apply for any extra categories of vehicle covered on your old licence if you still want to be able to drive them." Moreover, they caution: "There might be extra costs for these but if you don't apply for these extra categories you'll only be able to drive a car in future." The guidance has been issued amid discussions that seniors should have routine MOTs and health checks. Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community It has also sparked some frustration among drivers, with one saying: "Look, I already have annual eyetests every November. Is it suggested I would need yet another one 4 months later when my licence needs renewal and just how is it the responsibility of the opticians to report their findings to the DVLC, and who pays for that," reports BirminghamLive. "Much better idea, carry out regular stop and search checks and pick off the no licence? No insurance cover? and the many drug taking drivers. Who incidentally are unlikely to be fed 70 plus." Driving safety standards were also put into question by Dr James Adeley, HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire, who labelled the current visual legal requirements as "ineffective and unsafe" following four separate deaths. He added: "Doing nothing means the risk of more avoidable deaths and life-changing injuries remains, caused by people whose quality of vision means they should no longer be driving." Dr Adeley said: "The four fatalities shared the same feature that the driver's sight was well below the standard required to drive a car." He added: "The current system for 'ensuring' drivers meet the visual legal standards is ineffective, unsafe and unfit to meet the needs of society as evidenced by the deaths of Marie Cunningham, Grace Foulds, Anne Ferguson and Peter Westwell where the DVLA continued to provide licences to drivers who had failed to meet the legal sight requirements."
ITV News
21-05-2025
- ITV News
Jay Slater's inquest hears two friends with him before his disappearance 'cannot be located'
An inquest into the death of teenager Jay Slater after he went missing on the island of Tenerife has heard that, despite the fact that police are searching for them, two friends he was with just before he disappeared "cannot be located". The proceedings are taking place into the 19-year-old's death today at Preston Coroner's Court, overseen by senior coroner Dr James Adeley, who also presided over Nicola Bulley's case two years ago. As the hearing got underway this morning, Dr Adeley informed the court that neither Lucy Law nor Brad Hargreaves, who had been with the Oswaldtwistle bricklayer in Tenerife and attended the NRG music festival on the Spanish island last June, could be found prior to the inquest. The coroner stated that both individuals, who could have been key witnesses in the inquest, had "denied who they are" ahead of today's hearing. Dr Adeley told the court that Lucy and Brad "cannot be located", adding: "We can't find them. "They have denied who they are and we have had police looking for them but we can't find them." Jay had attended an event at the NRG music festival in Playa de las Americas before travelling to an Airbnb in the Rural Parc de Teno in the north of the island on June 17 last year. He attempted to return to the flat where he was staying with friends in Los Cristianos on foot, before going missing, and after a four-week search, Jay was found dead on July 15 in the Juan Lopez ravine, near to the remote village of Masca in Teno. His body was identified using a 'palm print', and Cheryl McGowan, Lancashire Constabulary's senior fingerprint expert, said she compared this with records held by the police and she is confident that "it's definitely a positive identification". Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd told the inquest: "There were extensive changes due to decomposition. There were changes due to the period of time he was lying in a hot environment - changes I would expect to see in that period of 28 days or thereabouts."The pathologist says Jay suffered several injuries but "that to the head is by far the most important one in understanding why Jay died". Dr Shepherd explained that this involved "the application of considerable force", adding: "The pattern of injuries is entirely consistent with a heavy fall from height."The head injury which Jay suffered "would have had an immediate and devastating effect", Dr Shepherd says. "The injury is so severe that I have no doubt at all that he would have been rendered immediately unconscious."The pathologist has provided a cause of death as head injury. A CT scan showed there was "a severe fracture of the head". The Spanish authorities also concluded that the cause of Jay's death was a severe traumatic brain injury, the inquest heard.
Sky News
18-04-2025
- Sky News
UK's system for verifying drivers' eyesight 'unsafe', coroner rules after four people killed
The UK's system for ensuring drivers have good eyesight is "unsafe", a coroner has said. Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire, made the remark at the inquests of four people killed by motorists whose vision was failing. He said Britain's licensing system was the "laxest in Europe" - and one of only three to allow eyesight conditions to be self-reported. He also said it was concerning that the UK was the only European country to issue licences without any checks up to the age of 70. Dr Adeley presided over the inquests in Preston of Marie Cunningham, 79, Grace Foulds, 85, Peter Westwell, 80, and Anne Ferguson, 75. Mrs Cunningham and Mrs Foulds, who were friends, were struck by Glyn Jones, 68, in his Audi A3 as they crossed the road in Southport, Merseyside, in November 2021. Jones was told by both his optician and GP on several occasions that his eyesight was well below the standard required for driving a vehicle after he was diagnosed with a severe eye condition. But he ignored the warnings and did not inform the DVLA or insurers. He was sentenced to seven years and four months in jail in January last year. Mr Westwell was hit by Neil Pemberton, 81, as he crossed the road in Langho, near Blackburn, on 17 March 2022. Mrs Ferguson died when she was struck by a van driven by Vernon Law, 72, in Whitworth, Rochdale, on 11 July 2023. Dr Adeley said: "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 as evidenced by the deaths of [the four victims] where the DVLA continued to provide licences to drivers who had failed to meet the legal sight requirements." He added: "Self-reporting of visual conditions permits drivers to lie about their current driving status to those performing an ophthalmic assessment and avoid warnings not to drive. "Drivers may also admit they drive but then ignore instructions not to drive and fail to notify the DVLA." Failure to tell the licensing agency of a new or worsening eyesight condition from the age of 70 is a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £1,000 but the coroner pointed out: "However, as the DVLA have never referred a case to the police where a condition was not disclosed for consideration for a prosecution, this appears to be a sanction without teeth." Terry Wilcox, of Hudgell Solicitors, representing the families of Mrs Cunningham, Mrs Foulds and Mr Westwell, said: "People ignore what they are told when it doesn't suit their lifestyle, and in reality there is nothing in place to stop selfish people putting others at risk by getting back behind the wheel. "Best estimates are that around 2% of drivers would fail the driving eyesight test - which would equate to around 750,000 drivers and 4,250 journeys every day on the M25. "It is quite frankly frightening. "Essentially, the only proof of suitable eyesight drivers have to provide is on the day of their driving test, when a number plate has to be read from 20 metres away. "If you pass your test at 17, you are not asked to provide real evidence or proof of your eyesight ability ever again." The Department for Transport said it would consider the coroner's report once received.
Telegraph
17-04-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Get drivers with bad eyesight off the roads or more will die, coroner warns
Road deaths will continue while drivers with bad eyesight remain behind the wheel, a coroner has warned. Dr James Adeley, the senior coroner for Lancashire, said the system to keep sight-impaired motorists off the road was 'ineffective' and needed to change to prevent future deaths. He has sent a report to Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, calling for action after presiding over a landmark inquest into the deaths of four people killed by drivers with failing eyesight. All four deaths were caused by drivers whose sight was below the standard required to drive a car. Dr Adeley 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. He made the remarks at the rare joint inquest in Preston of Marie Cunningham, 79, Grace Foulds, 85, Peter Westwell, 80, and Anne Ferguson, 75. Mrs Cunningham and Mrs Foulds, who were friends, were struck by Glyn Jones in his Audi A3 as they crossed the road in Southport, Merseyside, on Nov 30, 2021. Jones, 68, was aware for some years before the collision that his sight was insufficient to meet the minimum requirement to drive a car but failed to declare it to the DVLA. When he was jailed for seven years and four months, his sentencing hearing was told he could not even see his steering wheel clearly. Mr Westwell was hit by Neil Pemberton, 81, as he crossed the road in Langho, near Blackburn, on March 17 2022. Pemberton, who was jailed for 32 months, had a long history of eye disease and was informed on several occasions by different clinicians that he should not drive, the inquest heard. He also repeatedly failed to declare his sight deficit on multiple licence applications to the DVLA. Mrs Ferguson died when she was struck by a van driven by Vernon Law, 72, in Whitworth, Rochdale, on July 11 2023. Law, who was jailed for four years, also failed to declare his sight issues on multiple licence applications to the DVLA, the inquest at County Hall heard. Dr Adeley said: '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.' The Department for Transport said it would consider the coroner's report once received. A spokesman added: '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.' When drivers reach the age of 70, and every three years after, they renew their licence on the basis of self-certification that they can read a number plate at 20 metres and have not been told by a doctor or clinician that their vision has fallen below the legal limit for driving. The coroner said: 'Self-reporting of visual conditions permits drivers to lie about their current driving status to those performing an ophthalmic assessment and avoid warnings not to drive. 'Drivers may also admit they drive but then ignore instructions not to drive and fail to notify the DVLA. 'A sanction without teeth' Failure to notify the DVLA of a new or worsening eyesight condition from the age of 70 is a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £1,000 but the coroner pointed out: 'As the DVLA have never referred a case to the police [...] this appears to be a sanction without teeth.' Following the inquests, the family of Mrs Cunningham said: 'Our mum, and her friend, were killed by the selfish, reckless actions of Glyn Jones, an obnoxious, self-righteous man who chose to ignore repeated medical advice telling him that his eyesight failed the legal limit to drive, to this he showed a complete disregard for the safety of others. 'His decision to put his own convenience before the law, before ethics, before human lives, cost our family everything. 'This tragedy was not inevitable. It was entirely avoidable. 'And we are left grappling with the painful truth that if this man had acted responsibly our mum would still be with us.' The inquests heard that the number of drivers aged over 70 increased by more than 50 per cent between 2014 and 2024 and continues to increase by approximately a quarter of a million drivers each year. Surveys of optometrists in the UK have reported that more than half reported seeing a patient in the last month who despite being told their vision was beneath the driving standard indicated they would continue to drive, the inquests heard. Another survey of the public found that 29 per cent of motorists said they would continue to drive despite knowing their vision is below the legal standard.
