‘Complete surprise’ – Driver discovers need for glasses after half a century

Anne Flanagan reminds us of the importance of road safety as she signs up to the Share the Road to Zero campaign. Included is DfI Minster Liz Kimmins.

After half a century behind the wheel, Anne Flanagan thought her eyesight was perfectly fine – until a routine eye examination told her otherwise.

Anne, who had been driving for 50 years, was told she needed glasses to drive during a standard optician’s check-up. The news came as a “complete surprise”, but once she began using glasses, she immediately noticed a marked improvement in her vision, particularly in poor weather or bright sunlight.

Now, Anne is lending her voice to the Department for Infrastructure’s Share the Road to Zero community engagement campaign, which seeks to reduce road deaths by encouraging every road user to take more responsibility and care.

The initiative has already gained backing from high-profile names, including Ulster Ladies GAA and Armagh captain Clodagh McCambridge, Olympian Ciara Mageean, Liverpool and Northern Ireland footballer Conor Bradley, Ulster Rugby stars Jacob Stockdale, Nick Timoney and Michael Lowry, Ulster GAA player Rory Grugan, senior women’s footballer Emily Wilson and the Belfast Giants.

Organisations such as the Northern Ireland Football League, PSNI, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, and local councils have also signed up.

Anne said:

“I’ve always been very aware of the personal responsibility I have when I get behind the wheel of my car and turn on the ignition. That personal responsibility came into sharp focus recently when I had an eye test and was told I needed glasses for driving – news that came as a complete surprise to me.

“Naively, I had assumed my eyesight for driving was just fine. Yet I can’t believe the improvement those glasses have made – my long-distance vision is now much sharper, and I’ve noticed a significant difference when driving in bad weather or very bright conditions; everything is so much clearer.

“We often hear about younger drivers, but each of us who gets behind the wheel, including older and experienced drivers, has a responsibility to make our roads safer.”

She added that drivers of all ages must remain mindful of how their health, including eyesight, can impact road safety:

“If we do that, we will help keep ourselves and other road users safe.”

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins thanked Anne for sharing her story:

“I want to thank Anne for highlighting important road safety messages by reminding us of steps we can take to be responsible road users. Sadly too many people are killed and seriously injured on our roads every year and more than 95% of road deaths are due to human error.

“Our recent Fitness to Drive campaign is a reminder to us all to follow the right steps in the event of illness or eyesight issues. Anne’s experience, discovering she needed glasses to drive for the first time after many years, is useful to hear. If we all keep ourselves right by taking personal responsibility, we will help make roads safer.”

The Department for Infrastructure’s Share the Road to Zero campaign continues to highlight that safer roads depend on personal responsibility, with even the most experienced drivers encouraged to check their fitness to drive regularly.