A VICAR is taking her campaign for a change in driving laws to the top.

Rev Brenda Gutberlet, from Canvey, is set to meet with Patrick McLoughlin, minister for transport, to call for drivers with eyesight or health problems to be taken off the roads.

She has been fighting for an update to the Road Traffic Act 1988 since losing her niece in a crash nearly nine years ago.

Bride-to-be Natalie Wade, 28, from Rochford, was out shopping for her wedding dress when a 78-year-old motorist with partial blindness drove through a red light and ploughed into her on a pedestrian crossing.

She died in hospital five days later, on Valentine’s Day 2006.

Her familywant the DVLA’s “honesty declaration”, which allows drivers over 70 to self-certify their fitness to drive, to be abolished.

It also puts the onus on motorists with eyesight problems and epilepsy to own up to the DVLA about their condition.

They are supported by Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris, who has helped organise Tuesday's crunch meeting with Mr McLoughlin.

Rev Gutberlet, the former vicar of Canvey Methodist Church, said: “As a family, we feel very strongly about this.

“From the age of 40 our eyesight starts to deteriorate, and by 60 most people are wearing spectacles.

“Being able to drive is a privilege, not a right, and we can’t see why it’s not possible for the Government to make changes to the law. We understand money is tight and we’re realistic we’re not going to get everything we want.

“We’re looking at simple changes.

For example, in America, anyone who has been told they need to wear spectacles when driving has an icon on their driving licence, so police are aware of this if they stop them.

“There is a lot of needless slaughter going on.”