Mature Motoring Workshops Now Available

Driving refresher workshops are now available free of charge for senior drivers in Powys, the county council has announced. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mature Motoring workshops are two-hour informal courses developed and delivered by Powys County Council’s Road Safety Unit, thanks to Welsh Government funding. The workshops are aimed at drivers aged 65 years and older. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The workshops focus on issues such as driving licence requirements, the effects of medication, personal safety while driving, winter driving, the dangers of drink driving and not wearing seatbelts. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The workshops take place on the following dates and from 10am-12pm: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• St John’s Family Centre, Brecon – Thursday 12 May
• Llanelwedd Jubilee Hall, Llanelwedd – Thursday 9 June
• St John’s Ambulance Station, Rhayader – Tuesday 12 July
• Knighton Community Centre, Knighton – Thursday 15 September. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Residents, aged 65 and over, are also offered the chance to take part in a free one hour practical drive with an approved driving instructor. The ‘Drive On’ scheme is a confidential and practical assessment that helps those taking part to develop their skills and identify any areas of weakness, or lack of confidence that may have developed over the years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr John Brunt, Cabinet Member responsible for Road Safety, said: “We hope that these free courses will help preserve and conserve valuable driving skills and make drivers more aware of what influences our driving, ultimately leading to a reduction in collisions and casualties in this vulnerable driving group.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The workshop and practical drive are both completely free to Powys residents. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​