SCORES of unsafe drivers have been taken off the road as a result a campaign launched following the death of a student.


But campaigning mother Jackie McCord said more action still needs to be taken to test drivers’ sight - before they get behind the wheel.


The campaign for Cassie’s Law was launched after Colchester Sixth Form College student Cassie McCord, 16, was killed as she stood on the pavement in Head Street, Colchester.


The driver of the car, Colin Horsfall, 87, had been advised not to drive again after having an accident in Highwoods, Colchester, three days earlier.


He also failed a sight test at the scene but rejected police advice to surrender his licence.


Cassie’s mother Jackie, with support from the Gazette and Essex County Standard and Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell, called for changes to the law and presented a 46,000 name petition to road safety minister Stephen Hammond.


As a result, a new procedure was introduced which allows police to contact the DVLA directly when they have concerns and the agency can now instantaneously revoke a motorist’s licence.


Figures have shown 86 licences were revoked from when the new legislation was introduced in February until May.


That is more than four times the number of revocations during 2012. Then 21 licences were revoked due to the drivers’ poor eye sight.


Jackie said: “That is absolutely fantastic and demonstrates there are drivers on the road who should not be driving.”


But Jackie said more preventative action should be taken.


She said: “We renew our driving licences every ten years. Surely at that point drivers should also have a sight test.”