A 79-year-old pensioner has voiced her frustration after being told she must travel 175 miles for a DVLA-approved eyesight assessment or risk losing her driving licence. The retiree, residing in Pool, Cornwall, was stunned to learn that no accredited testing centres exist in Cornwall or Devon following a failed vision test earlier this year.
Failed test triggers lengthy journey
In January, the woman failed an eyesight assessment at a Specsavers branch in Redruth. She was subsequently instructed to undergo a further test at a DVLA-approved medical centre. According to Birmingham Live, the nearest available location is in Castle Cary, Somerset, approximately 175 miles from her home. This means a round trip of nearly 400 miles.
The pensioner described the situation as "grossly unfair" for rural residents. "If I don't pass, I'll hold my hands up and say, 'Okay, I failed it'," she said. "I'll get on with not being able to drive. But I think they can see that it's not fair. I'm not going to be the only one that this is going to happen to."
Impact on independence
Driving remains crucial for her independence, and losing her licence would significantly affect her daily life. "To me, driving is very important. I can still drive. There's no problem when we're driving," she stated. "It would have a big impact on me. I've then got to rely on my partner, my independence would be completely gone."
She questioned why no approved assessment centres are available closer to home for drivers in the South West. "I'm not going to be the only one that's going to get called out by this," she added. "I think they're trying to sort out the elderly drivers and fair enough, I can understand that. But there should be a place down here that we can go to. It's a long way to go to take a test, which you are not guaranteed to pass."
Renewed concerns over rural service access
The case has reignited concerns about access to services in rural parts of the country, particularly for older motorists who may face lengthy journeys to attend specialist assessments required to retain their licences. The DVLA has not yet commented on the matter.
