DVLA is failing the public, lawyer tells FAI

The fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the Glasgow bin lorry crash has heard the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is “failing the public on a truly disturbing scale”.

The remarks were made yesterday by solicitor advocate Ronald Conway who represents the family of 29-year old victim Stephenie Tait.

Mr Conway called for the UK government to hold an urgent investigation into the DVLA’s self-reporting system for drivers’ medical conditions and proposed standard forms for doctors to fill out after determining that someone is not fit to drive.

He said it would be simple to implement a system whereby doctors who have advised a patient that they are no longer fit to drive can immediately fill out a form informing the DVLA of that assessment.

Mr Conway suggested a system like this could be implemented without the need for primary legislation.

The FAI earlier heard that Harry Clarke, the bin lorry driver involved in the crash, gave inaccurate information about his medical history to the DVLA.

Mr Clarke failed to inform the agency of a previous blackout at the wheel of a Glasgow bus in 2010, which could have disqualified him from driving.

The fatal accident inquiry later heard from a DVLA official who said he did not know of anyone who had been prosecuted over making a false declaration to the DVLA.

David Wilson, the solicitor acting for the family of 51-year old victim Jacqueline Morton, said that showed the system was “open to abuse” and did not protect the public.

The inquiry continues at Glasgow Sheriff Court, though is beginning to draw to a close.