Marie Cunningham was the head of a large and loving family from Merseyside. At 79 years old, she was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother; and remained in good health, fully independent and full of life. It is hugely apparent from our conversations with two of her children, Terry and Sue, that she was absolutely adored and full of kindness. On 30th November 2021, Marie was assisting her friend, Grace Foulds (aged 85) to cross the road. Both women were then struck by a car driven by Glyn Jones – they received catastrophic injuries and died in hospital the same day. As our members will understand, this brought unimaginable shock and heartbreak to the whole family.
In January 2024, Glyn Jones was convicted of Causing death by dangerous driving and received a custodial sentence of 7 years and 4 months. He also received a driving ban of 9 years and 10 months. The investigation into the deaths of Marie and Grace found that Jones had been told by medical professionals on 9 occasions, over a period of a decade, that his vision was not of the standard required to drive. Jones should have self-reported this to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and given up his licence – he chose not to. Jones had severe bilateral keratoconus (a condition which can impair the ability of the eye to focus and cause poor vision). In 2019, on being told that his eyesight did not meet the standard required to drive he got straight back into his car to drive home. He then had some procedures carried out, before self-assessing that he was safe to drive (despite no medical professional telling him this).
Therefore, as if their grief was not difficult enough, the Cunningham family were confronted with the painful knowledge that Jones should not have been behind the wheel – and had he not been, Marie and Grace would not have been killed.
Marie’s son, Terry, said: “It is simply no longer acceptable that drivers in the UK are allowed to remain on the roads despite failing to meet the minimum legal standards for eyesight and health. This is not about age, it’s about safety. Driving is a privilege, not a right, and the consequences of poor fitness to drive can be fatal. Vision is central to safe driving. Around 90% of the decisions a driver makes rely on what they see. Yet, once someone passes their driving test, they are effectively allowed to self-certify to the DVLA their vision and other medical conditions for life, with no mandatory checks. This is a gaping hole in our road safety system. We don’t let people MOT their own vehicles. We don’t let learners decide they’ve passed their driving test. These decisions are made by qualified professionals and reported to the DVLA. So why are individuals trusted to assess their own fitness to drive, with no oversight? A safe vehicle driven by an unsafe driver is not safe. As a family that has been directly affected by such a tragedy, we are speaking out. Voluntary self-reporting is clearly not working.”
On 24th March 2022, HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen, Dr James Adeley, commenced an investigation into the deaths of Marie and Grace, along with Anne Ferguson and Peter Westwell (whose lives were also taken in collisions caused by drivers with eyesight which fell below the standard required). An inquest was held in April 2025, concluding with Dr Adeley issuing a Section 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths (PFD), which has been sent to the Secretary of State for Transport. The Secretary of State has 56 days to respond to the report (until 12th June 2025).
However, as we know, while there is a duty to respond to a PFD, there is no mechanism to ensure recommended actions are taken. Yet, action is so clearly needed. Each of the 4 deaths discussed in the report were caused by drivers who had either repeatedly failed to self-report eye conditions, or who had told optometrists that they were non-drivers. While we all would like to think most people would do the right thing and notify the DVLA if told their eyesight meant it was no longer safe to drive, we simply cannot rely on good nature when it comes to ensuring the safety of all road users. Within his PFD Report, Dr Adeley references an independent survey of the public in which 29% of motorists said they would continue to drive despite knowing their vision is below the legal standard, and 26% of respondents said they were concerned about someone they knew driving despite having poor vision. Dr Adeley refers to a ‘defective self-reporting system’ and we agree.
Dr Adeley goes on to raise concerns that the UK has a lax licensing system, stating that:
- the UK is one of only five European countries to use a licence plate test for visual acuity testing
- one of only three European countries to rely on self-reporting of visual conditions affecting the ability to drive
- the only European country to issue a licence without any visual check for a continuous period of time that may be as much as 53 years (from 17 to 70).
He also explains that from the point of passing a test to turning 70, a number of ocular diseases could develop, some which a driver may be aware of and some which they may not. While, from the age of 70 onwards, the incidence of disease that affect the eye rises sharply.
Marie’s daughter, Sue, said: “The inquest gave us some answers as to why mum was killed, however, it has also highlighted the failings of the current self-reporting system used by drivers, health care professionals and the DVLA”.
Because of this, Terry, Sue and the rest of their family have developed a campaign they are calling ‘Sight Safe’ in memory of their mum, and all those who have been killed or seriously injured in collisions involving drivers with poor eyesight. They are calling for:
- Learner drivers to present a proof of eyesight certificate from an ophthalmologist before taking their practical driving test
- For drivers to have an eye test every 10 years or when renewal of a photocard licence is due
- For drivers to have a compulsory eye test at the age of 70 and then every 2 years
- For the development of a system or process which allows medical professionals to inform the DVLA in real time if a driver’s vision is below the standard required for driving
- For better monitoring of collisions in which eyesight may have been a contributory factor
RoadPeace is in support of the calls of ‘Sight Safe’ and keen to assist Terry and Sue as they build their case for change. If you have been bereaved through or injured in a collision in which the driver was found to have eyesight below the legal standard, or would like to show your support for the campaign, please email our Justice and Outreach Manager, Lucy (lucy.harrison@roadpeace.org). Alternatively, please email your MP and ask them to add their name to the letter above, written by the MP for St Helens North (David Baines) and the MP for Southport (Patrick Hurley).
At RoadPeace, we always wish we had never had to meet the bereaved family members and injured victims we come into contact with, as we wish they had never experienced the tragedies they have. Indeed, the Cunningham family should not be having to carry out the campaigning work they are, as their mother should still be alive. However, it is clear to us that they are determined and committed to making change, and we applaud their incredible efforts to do so.
Terry, Sue and Dr Adeley have taken part in the documentary ‘Cause of Death’ which was broadcast on Channel 5 on Sunday 25th May. If you missed this, you can catch up on it here:
5 – Cause of Death – Season NaN – Episode 1 / Cause of Death
Updated on: 2 June 2025