Minister is unaware of plan to lower standard

Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond MP admitted last week that he was unaware of his own department's plans to lower the eyesight standard for motorists.

Speaking at the UK launch of the UN Decade for Road Safety in Westminster (May 11), Hammond announced the government's new Strategic Framework for Road Safety to an audience of 175 stakeholders from motoring, transport and road safety organisations.

The measures include fixed penalty notices for careless driving, action to enforce drink and drug driving laws, and retraining offenders to help them develop safer skills and attitudes. The aim was to reduce the number of deaths and injuries on Britain's roads, said the minister.