Source · Prevention of Future Deaths
Arthur Shaw
Ref: 2014-0593
Date: 14 May 2014
Coroner: David Horsley
Area: Portsmouth and South East Hampshire
Responses identified: 0 / 1
View PDF
The process for renewing driving licenses for individuals over 70 lacks specific assessment of mental fitness, relying only on sight and hearing tests, despite potential cognitive impairment like dementia.
Date
14 May 2014
56-day deadline
9 Jul 2014 est.
Responses identified
0 of 1
Coroner's concerns
The process for renewing driving licenses for individuals over 70 lacks specific assessment of mental fitness, relying only on sight and hearing tests, despite potential cognitive impairment like dementia.
View full coroner's concerns
_ driver of the vehicle that struck Mr Shaw was herself 87 years old and was suffering dementia at the time of the collision. This was confirmed by her GP whose evidence was that she had been diagnosed as suffering from dementia in November 2012 and the doctor believed the dementia had been present prior to that diagnosis_ Her condition was such that the GP did not think she would be capable of giving reliable evidence at the Inquest and, accordingly, she was not called as a witness was told by police witnesses that when persons over the age of 70 renew their driving licences, they have to be certified by their doctor as being fit to drive. However, whilst doctors check hearing and vision, there is no specific need for the doctor to consider mental fitness t0 drive. believe that the circumstances of Mr Shaws death demonstrate the need for more careful examination of an elderly person's fitness to drive beyond simple sight and hearing tests The from
Report sections
Investigation and inquest
On 13th January 2013 commenced an investigation into the death of Arthur Clifford Shaw, aged 93 years_ The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 24th April 2014. The conclusion of the inquest was Death due to an Accident: The medical cause of death was multiple injuries_
Circumstances of the death
Atabout 16.40 hours on 31st December 2012, Arthur Clifford SHAW was struck by a car whilst crossing Privett Road; Gosport He was taken to Southampton University Hospital where he died at 09.55 hours on January 2013 as a result of the injuries he had sustained.
Action should be taken
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and believe your organisation has the power to take such action.
Similar PFD reports
Related inquiry recommendations
Ladbroke Grove Inquiry
Revise signal sighting standard to explicitly consider signal readability
Ladbroke Grove Inquiry
Define additional time required for reading gantry-mounted and complex signals
Ladbroke Grove Inquiry
Clarify "very short duration" definition within the signal sighting standard
Ladbroke Grove Inquiry
Identify and retrospectively review locations affected by "very short duration" ambiguity
Ladbroke Grove Inquiry
Clarify "overhead line equipment" in signal sighting standard to mean wires and droppers
Ladbroke Grove Inquiry
Define acceptable limits for temporary signal obscuration in sighting standards
Ladbroke Grove Inquiry
Explicitly define cab sight lines for signal positioning based on driver's eye
Ladbroke Grove Inquiry
Railtrack to conduct safety examination of Paddington station layout and operations.
Report details
- Reference
- 2014-0593
- Date of report
- 14 May 2014
- Coroner
- David Horsley
- Coroner area
- Portsmouth and South East Hampshire
Responses identified
Responses identified
0 of 1
1 response not yet linked
Organisations named in PFD reports are normally expected to respond within 56 days. Deadline: 9 Jul 2014 (estimated).
Sent to
- Department for Transport