'Cause of Death' Ch5 9pm Sunday

[Vizsla]

Anybody watch this, it was a Special Edition of The Coroner.

3 different pedestrian road accidents, resulting in 4 tragic fatalities, the 'link' was that all 3 drivers were males 'of a certain age' who were (a) held to be 100% responsible for all 3 accidents, but, crucially (b) were effectively blind as a bat and had been warned by their opticians and GP's not to drive.

Highlighted the failings of the 'self-certification' system when you apply for licence renewal every 3 years after the age of 70, just lie that your eyesight is fine and nobody checks until you kill someone (one of the blokes could only read a number plate at a distance of 2.5 meters)

Couldn't argue with the Coroner that the present system is just not fit for purpose, DVLA of course gave him the expected flannel 'the vast majority of people are honest' etc etc.

One can only imagine the cost and practical difficulties of testing ?millions of elderly drivers regularly, how could it be made workable?

Just to add, I'm in the 70+ age group and would 100% support a tightening up of the process.

[Gladers01]

That was shocking, one driver was told he shouldn't be driving due to poor eyesight over 10 years ago and carried on regardless. The reading of the number plate test at 20 metres could be carried out by opticians when doing a regular eyesight test every 2 years for those that wear glasses and for those over a certain age who do drive and don't wear glasses the same test could apply every 5 years.

[QuartzDad]

Everyone with a driving licence should be made to have their eyes checked every two years. Opticians can upload the results to the DVLA similar to MOTs. Don't pass or forget to book a test, licence revoked.

Pretty sure I'd do worse than 2.5 metres without correction.

[BossHogg]

I'm all for compulsory eye tests as part of the licence renewal, why wait till 70, my eyesight started deteriorating in my late 40s, meaning I need glasses for driving. My work medical and my NHS eye test overlap, so in effect I get my eyes checked once a year.

[RoadToad84]

I was knocked off my bike a couple of years ago by an elderly gent who told the police officer "of course I didn't see him, I'm 90 years old!"

Definitely needs to be an overhaul of the system.

[croyde]

Eye tests are free to anyone over 60 already.

Be an easy thing to have your records available to the DVLA, surely.