Media release
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17 January, 2017
Blacktown City Council is taking action to help older drivers stay safe on the road and keep their drivers licences for as long as possible.
Council is holding a free workshop for drivers over the age of 65 on Friday, 2 February, from 9.30 to 11.30am at The Hub in Mount Druitt.
The free two-hour workshop covers information on using roundabouts, avoiding crashes and some common driving mistakes.
Participants will also get a road rules update and hear about what makes some vehicles safer than others.
Mark Chandler, 78, from Seven Hills took part in a Council-run DriveWise workshop in October with his wife, Trish, and said it was very helpful.
“We got a lot of excellent information about driving and road rules, which was important to me being a senior,” Mr Chandler said.
“I’m a fairly confident driver, but it was good to have a refresher course to reinforce the knowledge I already had and to keep me up to date.”
Former taxi operator and Chairman of Council’s Local Traffic Committee, Councillor Chris Quilkey, said it was important drivers were able to maintain their driving independence and skills as they aged.
“It is a fact of life that people grow older, and with increasing age come changes and challenges that can make it difficult for people to continue to drive safely,” Cr Quilkey said.
“But, with the right support, age need not be a barrier to driving.
“At Council we want to support our seniors to live active and healthy lives, which is why we are offering this free course to ensure they have the skills and confidence they need to keep driving safely on our roads.”
The DriveWise workshop for mature drivers is one of four free events Council is holding in Mount Druitt in February to promote driver safety:
DriveWise workshop on Friday 2 February from 9.30 to 11.30am at The Hub - This workshop is for any driver over the age of 65 who wants to stay safe on the road and keep their licence for as long as possible. The free two hour workshop covers information on using roundabouts, avoiding crashes and some common driving mistakes. Participants will also get a Road Rules update and hear about what makes some vehicles safer than others.
Supervising Learner Drivers workshop on Monday 5 February from 6.30 to 8.30pm at The Hub - This workshop is for parents and supervisors of L platers and explains how the graduated licencing scheme works, what a supervisor’s responsibilities are, and how to manage practice sessions with a learner driver. We will also discuss options for legally reducing the supervised hours through workshops and driving lessons.
You’re the Driver workshop over two Thursday evenings on 15 and 22 February from 6.30 to 8.30pm at The Hub - This workshop involves attending two separate sessions which are held one week apart. Each session focuses on the road rules, avoiding crashes where possible and minimising the effects of being in an incident. Learn how to “read” the road and understand the signs and line marking to make your journey safer. We will also cover how to understand parking signs to minimise your risk of getting parking fines.
Child car seat checking day on Tuesday 20 February from 9.30am to 1.30pm in the Westfield car park Mount Druitt - Children are the focus at the final road safety session of the month with a free car seat checking day. Drivers can bring their car in for a check of their car seats, which is carried out by authorised checkers. We will make sure that the car seat will operate properly in the event of a crash and to ensure it is adjusted to suit the child that uses it.
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