Bournemouth MP signs for tougher laws on drivers with poor eyesight.
36 Labour MPs, including Bournemouth's Tom Hayes, have signed the letter
Last updated 29th May 2025
On the 23rd of May 2025 MPs, including Bournemouth's Tom Hayes, signed a letter to the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, calling for "Mandatory reporting of medical conditions to the DVLA".
The letter was in reflection of the case of Mrs Susan Rimaitas, who's mother Marie Cunningham, 79, and her 85 year old friend Grace Foulds were fatally hit by a visually impaired driver in 2021.
Susan Rimaitas set up a campaign for making it mandatory for medical professionals to inform the DVLA of any visual impairments that make it unsafe for their patient to drive which then was backed by the MPs.
In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, the Police force told us that this region is one of the best at referring visually impaired drivers to the DVLA.
Sergeant Jamie Dobson, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police's road safety sergeant, says, "Hampshire constabulary are one of the top 4 forces across the country for referrals to the DVLA regarding eyesight tests and have had a number of driving licences revoked because people fail to meet the required eyesight test"
He adds, "In the last 10 years, the DVLA have revoked 256 licences from motorists as a result of referrals from Hampshire and Isle of Wight constabulary for poor vision."
However to increase the safety of yourself and others, Sergeant Dobson highlights the importance of eyesight tests and recommends seeing your optician "once every two years and more frequently if you think you have a problem".