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.

For more information or to book onto a workshop in Breconshire and Radnorshire please phone 01597 826979 or to book onto a workshop in Montgomeryshire please phone 01686 611586.

Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or contact us through our Facebook page www.facebook.com/RoadSafetyPowys