Mother campaigns for tighter driving rules

The mother of a teenager killed by an elderly motorist with defective vision plans to lobby the government later this year for the police to be able to seize the car of someone unfit to drive.

An 87-year-old motorist, Colin Horsfall, had failed an on-the-spot number plate test following a previous minor accident in Colchester on February 4 2011. He was found to only be able to see to 16.2m and advised not to drive again by PC Daniel Bellingham who faxed a report of the incident to the DVLA on February 6. The next day Horsfall drove into Colchester and ploughed onto the pavement, hitting pedestrian Cassie McCord who died in hospital the next day. An inquest in Essex last week recorded a verdict of unlawful killing, with Horsfall's subsequent death a result of the accident.

According to the Daily Mail, January 14, over 10,000 people have signed a petition by the teenager's mother Jackie McCord, whose campaign to change the law so that any unfit driver can be immediately stopped from driving is supported by the police and her local MP.

Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said that police already had the power to arrest any driver who posed a threat to himself or others and cases could be fast-tracked to courts which could withdraw licences. He added that there was scope for the existing legislation and systems to offer more protection.

The subject of what the Department of Health was doing to ensure optometrists and other medical professionals reported unfit drivers to the police and the DVLA was raised in Parliamentary Questions by Conservative MP Rebecca Harris on January 11. Simon Burns, minister of state for health, replied: 'While there is no legal obligation on doctors and optometrists to notify the police or DVLA, they do have a duty of care, not only to their patients but also to the general public.'

He pointed out guidance from the General Medical Council, which is also included in the College of Optometrists' Code of Ethics and Guidance for Professional Conduct.

? Professor Chris Dickinson explains fitness to drive procedures and the profession's responsibilities in next week's Driving and Vision series.

Paul Carroll, Specsavers’ director of professional services, says: ‘This was a tragic accident and our thoughts are with Miss McCord’s family and friends.

‘Specsavers works closely with road safety charity Brake and we would urge the government to support Cassie’s law and our own call for compulsory eye examinations for drivers, at least every two years, and for drivers to carry a spare pair of glasses in their vehicle.

‘If you cannot see the TV at home or read a newspaper you would automatically reach for your glasses, yet to get into your car and drive without them is apparently acceptable. It most definitely is not and we shall continue to work with Brake to prevent more unnecessary deaths on our roads.’

Specsavers fully support the Cassie’s Law petition. To sign the petition, please visit the Specsavers Facebook and Twitter pages.