Older driver eyesight rules “need to change” with the introduction of an “enforced system” to stay on the roads, according to a leading campaigner. Rob Heard, founder of the Older Drivers Forum blasted the current self-certification rules as "antiquated" and the "worst in Europe".

He called out how easy it was for road users to “tick a box” to remain on the roads without proving they can properly see. Rob’s reaction came after HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire, Dr James Adeley, described the enforcement of visual standards for motorists as "ineffective and unsafe”. He blasted the UK’s licensing rules as the "laxest in Europe” as part of an inquest into the deaths of four people killed by motorists with poor eyesight.

Speaking to the BBC, Rob said: “The system is antiquated, it's been like this for many years, it does need to change. We are seeing more and more lives being lost every year due to people with defective vision.

“At the moment it's a self-certification system, when we apply for a licence we tick a box to say we can read a number plate at 20m, at licence renewals we tick a box to say the same, at the age of 70 we tick a box.

“The only legal time we have our eyesight actually checked is when we do our driving test and an examiner says ‘can you read that number plate at 20m’.

“After that, it's completely self-verification, even at licence renewal at 70 and that system is just one of the worst in Europe.”

He said: “When we talk about the standards of vision of driving we should be able to read a number plate at 20m, we should meet what we say 6/12 on the Snellen scale and have an adequate field of vision.

“Those latter two are not checked at any time even though they are the legal standard for driving.

“So therefore a more enforced system needs to be put in place to make sure people have an adequate vision for driving.”