Daughter of Andover cyclist calling for mandatory eye tests

Jim Tassell, 70, suffered a fatal head injury in July 2021 after being struck by an 81-year-old motorist who did not meet the legal eyesight standard.

Peter Gardner, 82, of Bloswood Lane, Whitchurch, was driving a silver Vauxhall Vectra when he collided with the cyclist from behind and knocked him off his bike.

The incident happened on the B3400 between Andover Down and Hurstbourne Priors at about 10am on Friday, July 23, 2021.

Jim Tassell and his daughter Emma (Image: Family collection) READ MORE: Cyclist killed by 'reckless' driver fulfilled dream and helped saves lives

The elderly driver could see only three metres ahead—far short of the 20m requirement.

Despite being airlifted to Southampton General Hospital, Jim passed away five days later.

On Friday, September 2 at Salisbury Crown Court, Gardner was jailed for six months for causing death by careless driving after pleading guilty.

During sentencing at Salisbury Crown Court in September 2022, the judge remarked that Gardner must have known his vision was failing.

Jim’s daughter, Emma Damen, is now calling for urgent changes to the law, after experiencing the devastating consequences of allowing drivers with poor vision to remain on the road.

“You’re literally playing with somebody’s life,” she said.

“If you know your eyesight is poor, go and get it checked. If you don’t, you could do to a family what’s happened to us. We’ve been devastated by this.”

Currently, drivers are required to read a car number plate from 20m away—using glasses or contact lenses if necessary—during their practical driving test.

However, there are no follow-up checks unless a driver self-reports a medical condition, even when licences are renewed.

Drivers over 70 must renew their licences every three years, but they are only required to confirm their fitness to drive via a self-certification process.

Emma described this system as a “tick-box exercise.”

“There’s no verification," she said.

"It’s a choice, and my dad paid the ultimate price for someone making the wrong choice. The thought of this happening to another family fills me with horror.”

Emma described her father as a “true gentleman” and a devoted family man. “He was the best dad,” she said.

“Losing him like this has been unbearable, and we want to ensure no other family has to endure this.”

Jim Tassell, 70, suffered a fatal head injury in July 2021 after being struck by an 81-year-old motorist who did not meet the legal eyesight standard (Image: Hampshire Constabulary) SEE ALSO: Driver, 82, jailed for six months for causing death of cyclist by careless driving 

The Association of Optometrists (AOP) is also advocating for tighter regulations.

Chief executive Adam Sampson described the current eyesight standard as outdated and added that it was introduced in 1938 and has remained unchanged since.

“All you need to do is read a number plate when you’re 17 or 18, and you qualify to drive,” he said.

“After that, it’s all self-certification. We’re seeing more and more cases of elderly drivers with poor vision causing fatal accidents because they simply can’t see.”