More will die without law change to keep unsafe drivers off the roads
Plus: Andrew Brown's What's On guide to the week ahead
Hello and welcome to the 30th edition of The Southport Lead.
In November 2021, Marie Cunningham and Grace Foulds were killed by a driver whose eyesight was so bad he could barely see outside the vehicle. Glyn Jones been warned about his vision being inadequate for a decade but still chose to drive and took the lives of the two much-loved friends.
A coroner who investigated the women’s deaths - and those of two more killed by motorists who shouldn’t have been driving - has called on the Department for Transport to make changes to prevent other people suffering the same fate. Today’s edition hears from the solicitor who represented the families at the inquest as he warns there is no adequate system in place to prevent unsafe people from driving - and that the DVLA has no idea how many unsafe people are currently being allowed to drive.
“Mum deserved so much more and we will never stop seeking justice in her name”
By Jamie Lopez
There is “nothing in place to stop” a repeat of the deaths of two pensioners who were run down by a driver who could barely see, according to the solicitor who represented their families.
Marie Cunningham and Grace Foulds were killed when they were run down on Lulworth Road by 67-year-old Glyn Jones in 2021. Jones, who would go on to be jailed for seven years and four months as a result, had been repeatedly told his eyesight was too poor to be driving more than a decade before the deadly crash.
The deaths were described as “entirely avoidable” by Mrs Cunningham’s family, who described them as the result of “an obnoxious, self-righteous man who chose to ignore repeated medical advice”.
An investigation found his vision was so poor he could barely see past the steering wheel but he continued to drive anyway. Jones had an eye condition called keratconus which had been diagnosed 10 years before and he had been advised several times that his eyesight fell far below the legal standard to drive.
But he did not stop driving and didn’t inform the DVLA or his insurers of his condition. He also hadn’t told his insurers or the DVLA about a fine and points he’d received for speeding.
It’s believed he was wearing an old contact lens at the time of the incident. He’d been prescribed new contact lenses but hadn’t collected them from the optician. Even with the lenses, an optometrist had told him his eyesight still fell way below the legal standard to drive.
Following a rare inquest collectively considering the deaths of both Mrs Cunningham, Mrs Foulds and two others who were killed by drivers with inadequate eyesight. It also looked at the deaths of Peter Westwell in Llangho, Lancashire, and Anne Ferguson in Rochdale. Mr Westwell was run down by 81-year-old Neil Pemberton, who had been told he should not drive by multiple clinicians, and Mrs Ferguson was killed by 72-year-old van driver Vernon Law who had cataracts in both eyes but lied to an optometrist that he didn’t drive.
Dr Adeley will soon retire from his role as Senior Coroner for Lancashire and the call for action may prove to be his legacy as he seeks to pressure the Department for Transport into reforming the system so that makes it more difficult for unsafe motorists to continue driving.
Under the existing rules, drivers are required to declare any medical conditions when they renew their licence. They are also required to notify the DVLA if they develop a medical condition which affects their vision, with optometrists and ophthalmologists not legally required to do so on their behalf, though they are encouraged to do so in some cases.
Solicitor Terry Wilcox, of Hudgell Solicitors, represented the families of Mrs Cunningham, Mrs Foulds and Mr Westwell and warned that without change, there is nothing to stop deaths occurring in the same manner again.
He said: “This inquest heard how four much-loved people were taken from their families as a direct consequence of people blatantly ignoring the advice of medical professionals to stop driving due to their failing eyesight, knowing they were a risk to others on the roads.
“So many life-threatening gaps in the system have been exposed. It is quite frankly frightening.
“We presently have a system under which the DVLA relies upon drivers to self-report, hand over their licence and stop driving when they’ve been told by a qualified healthcare professional that their eyesight is not to the required standard. This inquest has shown that it simply doesn’t happen.”
The problem has proved to be both a legal and cultural one, with many drivers knowingly prioritising their own interests and ease of travel over the safety of others combined with an inadequate legal system.
Mr Wilcox said: “We heard evidence from two of the drivers themselves, who, despite the terrible consequences of what they had done, still tried to defend their entirely selfish actions.
“Their evidence was utterly appalling to hear, but also provided a hugely important reflection of the scale of this issue we are dealing with.
“People ignore what they are told when it doesn’t suit their lifestyle, and in reality, there is nothing in place to stop selfish people putting others at risk by getting back behind the wheel.
“Put simply, the DVLA and the Department of Transport have no accurate statistical data or evidence of the number of visually impaired people driving on our roads on a daily basis with failing eyesight. Tests are not done regularly enough, and when they are, they serve no purpose.
“Essentially, the only proof of suitable eyesight drivers have to provide is on the day of their driving test, when a number plate has to be read from 20 metres away. If you pass your test at 17, you are not asked to provide real evidence or proof of your eyesight ability ever again.
“Whilst drivers have to reapply for their licence at 70, it’s simply a tick-box exercise. There is no requirement to produce evidence of eyesight ability, and the inquest heard that medical professionals are massively restricted by patient confidentiality rules and regulations.
“We hope this inquest leads to change, and that change happens quickly.”
For the victims in Southport, the battle for justice has proved to be a slow one with Jones, of Blackgate Lane, Tarleton, not sentenced until more than two years after the crash. Thanks to Dr Adeley’s action, there is hope that others could be saved from suffering the same loss as the families of the two friends.
In a statement delivered following the inquest, Mrs Cunningham’s family described her as the heart of the the family and someone who was “fiercely independent, full of warmth and humour, and loved deeply by all who knew her”.
They said: “Our mum, and her friend, were killed by the selfish, reckless actions of Glyn Jones, an obnoxious, self-righteous man who chose to ignore repeated medical advice telling him that his eyesight failed the legal limit to drive, to this he showed a complete disregard for the safety of others. His decision to put his own convenience before the law, before ethics, before human lives, cost our family everything.
“This tragedy was not inevitable. It was entirely avoidable. And we are left grappling with the painful truth that if this man had acted responsibly our mum would still be with us.
“Since that day, we’ve lived in the shadow of unimaginable loss. We lost our mum. Our children lost their Nan and her great-grandchildren lost the chance to know her warmth. We lost the warmth of her hugs, the comfort of her voice, and the wisdom she gave so freely.
“We lost our ability to sleep peacefully, to focus at work, to carefully for our own families. We lost three years of our lives not knowing the full truth—until now.
“Most heartbreakingly, we lost the woman who, in her final moments, thought only of helping a friend cross the road safely. That was who she was—kind, selfless, and deeply loved.
“We speak out today not only to honour her memory, but to shine a light on the devastating consequences of ignoring medical and legal responsibilities. 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, other health care professionals and the DVLA.
“Mum deserved so much more and we will never stop seeking justice in her name. We hope that no other family has to suffer in the way we have. She will never be forgotten and will always be in our hearts.”
A spokesperson for the DfT said told The Southport Lead that the report will be fully considered once it is received.
They added: “Every death on our roads is a tragedy, and our thoughts remain with the families of everyone who has lost a loved one in this way.
“The NHS recommends adults should have their eyes tested every two years and drivers are legally required to inform the DVLA if they have a condition which affects their eyesight. We are committed to improving road safety and continue to explore ways to achieve this.”
Nightclub redevelopment plan bids to secure building’s future
A town centre nightclub could soon be divided into smaller units in a bid to give the building a more sustainable future.
Under plans submitted to Sefton Council, the Beach Bar building on Waverley Street is to be split up into five units across three floors with a variety of different uses. One of those would be retained as a nightclub on a much smaller scale than has previously been seen there.
Over previous years, the space has also been home to the likes of Bar Non and Capilla. The proposed use for the new units is simply listed as Class E, a relatively new planning term which includes a wide range of commercial uses including restaurants, shops, indoor sports, offices and much more.
A report submitted with the application states: “This proposal is consistent with local and national planning policies, promoting sustainable development while respecting the heritage context of Southport.
“The subdivision and change of use will enhance the viability of the building, support economic activity, and maintain the character of the conservation area.”
News in headlines
'Our daughters will be with us,' say dads of Southport victims running London Marathon (BBC)
Southport MP slams private parking companies as tickets soar (Rayo)
Man 'with a much darker side' released from prison 28 months early (Liverpool Echo)
Meet the strategist trading London for a Lucky Start in Southport aimed at cutting out the ‘fluff’ (Prolific North)
What’s on this week
By Andrew Brown
Have you enjoyed the Bear Hunt Trail in Southport?
This Sunday (27th April) is the final chance to see them!
You can enjoy a free May Day Magic event at Wayfarers Arcade, while children will love four shows of The Baddies at The Atkinson.
There’s plenty to hop along to in Southport today, and over the next few days.
Here are some of the many things you can enjoy in Southport this week (27th April - 4th May 2025):
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to The Southport Lead to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.