'Driver who killed mum and her friend had poor eyesight'

The son of a Southport woman who was killed by a driver with a serious eyesight problem has said government plans to improve road safety do not go far enough.

The proposals include making it compulsory for drivers over 70 to have their vision checked every three years.

Steve Cunningham's mum Marie was crossing the road in Southport with her friend Grace Foulds when they were struck and killed by Glyn Jones in 2021. He was 68 at the time and had repeatedly ignored advice not to drive.

Steve and his family want the government to bring in compulsory eye tests for all drivers every 10 years. The government said its plans preserved "personal freedoms where possible with action to save lives".

Steve described the latest proposals by the government as "a plaster over a broken leg".

"It targeted an easy age group, which is the over 70s," he said.

"Glyn Jones was below the age of 70 and his eye condition actually started in his 20s."

Jones had been driving his Audi A3 home to Tarleton from Bootle when he hit the two women on Lulworth Road, in Southport, in December 2021.

During Jones' sentencing, Liverpool Crown Court heard he was repeatedly told his eyesight did not meet the minimum standard for driving and had failed to report his condition to the DVLA.

"So you've got all these people driving round in vehicles on the roads where your your mum, your dad, your children are crossing roads every single day," Steve said.

"They are driving these cars around and there are no checks."

Steve said it was "just common sense" for people to provide certification of their eyesight ability, or to show that they had the necessary corrective eyewear to allow them to drive safely, when renewing a licence.

"If you're 17 years of age and going for your driving test you're asked to read a number plate just 20 metres away... then you jump into a car, you're away then until you're 70," he said.

"When you renew your licence every 10 years you tick a box that says 'yes my eyesight is fine' but what does any member of the public think fine is without being tested?

"Targeting the over 70s seems like a cheap shot. There's an awful lot of over 70s who are very safe, very competent drivers and get their eyes checked regularly."

He added: "We accept that an MOT certificate is needed for a car to be safe to drive, why not make it so that all members of society contribute in a safer way when they get behind the wheel of a car?"

NHS eye tests are free for over-60s across the UK. Some other groups are also eligible for NHS-funded eye tests in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The NHS in Scotland provides free eye tests for all age groups.

The measures proposed by the government also include a minimum learning period for new drivers, stricter drink driving limits, changes to motorcycle compulsory basic training and tougher fines and penalties.

Nearly one in four car drivers killed in 2024 were aged 70 or older, according to government figures.

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