Council offers free driving assessments for mature drivers

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Road Safety team is offering free mature driver assessments for drivers aged over 65.

This particular road safety initiative is designed to help mature drivers brush up on their skills and address any concerns they may have so that they can drive safely for longer.

There are 50 places available, funded by the Road Safety Trust, to help raise awareness of road safety issues for the over 65 age group, who are increasingly over represented in casualty statistics as drivers, passengers and pedestrians.

The Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Highways, Councillor Karen Shore said:

“An assessment can reassure you that you are still safe to drive.

“As we get older our reflexes can start to slow. We may develop aches and pains that we never had before which can affect confidence in getting out and about in the community safely.

“This assessment will refresh your driving skills, restore your confidence and help you to drive safer for longer, maintaining your independence.”

The assessment will be in your own car, from your own home and on roads familiar to you and lasts about 60 minutes.

The funding is provided as part of a national evaluation of the standardised mature driver assessment scheme. The assessment will be offered free, but as part of the process, you will be asked to complete a short, anonymised online questionnaire and driving quiz approximately two weeks before your Mature Driver Review. Four weeks later, you will be asked to complete a second questionnaire and driving quiz.

For more information email: 

roadsafety@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk .