County Durham and Darlington PCC calls for regular eye tests for drivers
Joy Allen wants to see a reduction in road injuries and death
There are calls for drivers of any age across County Durham and Darlington to have regular eye tests to prevent road injuries and death.
Currently it is not mandatory and anyone over the age of 70 is required to self-declare any eyesight problems they may have as well as renewing their license every three years.
Joy Allen said: "Nationally police might do an operation and then all of a sudden people are thinking 'oh, I might need to get an eye test.' But really, we like to proactively get the education out there to think every so years at a certain age you should have an eye test.
"If you can't see what's infront of you or it's impacting on your ability to observe and make decisions, why wouldn't you do that? Especially if you could be dangerously driving if your eyesight is deficient
"It doesn't matter what age. I think there should be something a little bit more tighter to say 'if you're a road user and you have glasses, there should be a period of time where you go to get your test.'
"It eye tests can also pick up anything else that shouldn't be in your eyes so it can be a real lifesaver in your personal life, as well as keeping you safe on the road and also protecting you that you don't want to be involved in a collision and be found that you've been driving without good eyesight."
77 year-old Les Hutchinson in Darlington said: "I'm 77 and I've just got to say on my license 'yeah, my eyesight's alright.' I think you should be tested after 75 every two years because I know that the standard of driving with elderly people is terrible. They don't know what they're doing, they're causing accidents and the fatalities are inevitable."
Andy Green said: "I think even as a sort of 50 plus man now, my eyes don't see as much as them so I definitely think the elderly do need another test from 65 onwards."