Widow calls for drugs driving ban

Carole Jones was also injured in the crash

A Leicester woman whose husband was killed by a driver taking prescribed methadone has said he should never have been allowed behind the wheel.

Philip Jones, 58, from Swepstone, was knocked down and killed in Newarke Street, Leicester, on 29 July 2006.

Driver Andrew Richardson was jailed for eight years for causing death by dangerous driving in December 2006.

The DVLA said those under a supervised drug programme may be licensed to drive subject to a favourable review.

'Nullifies ability'

Carole Jones, who was also seriously injured in the incident, has now called for the government to ban methadone users from the road.

"Any drug at all that is a programme or because of abuse just nullifies that person having the ability to drive a motor vehicle.

"It should be taken away from them until they are clean," she said.

She also said she could not believe Richardson had qualified for a car funded through the benefits system.

"There is no way that the government should let anybody with an abuse of drugs or alcohol have a mobility car."

The Department of Work and Pensions said asking about methadone "is not relevant for the purposes of assessing entitlement".

In a statement the DVLA said: "Drivers complying fully with a consultant supervised oral methadone maintenance programme may be licensed to drive, subject to favourable and normally annual review."