Cheshire West and Chester Council

Cheshire West and Chester Council Road Safety Team are passionate about ensuring mature drivers are given the chance to continue driving if they are safe to do so. The Road Safety Team offer a number of ways to help the mature driver by giving them the skills and knowledge of how to carry on safely, but also explaining other options and when to consider stopping.

Drive Safely for Longer (DSFL)

This is a two-part initiative consisting of a workshop and optional driving session/assessment for drivers aged 65 and over.

• The workshops take place in various libraries and community groups across the borough and aims to increase knowledge and awareness during an in-person presentation. It covers eyesight, health, mobility, lifestyle, vehicles, public transport, and practical assistance.
  
  
• The optional driving session/assessment aims to improve driving skills. This on-the-road session takes place with a driving instructor whilst using their own car. These Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) are part of the Engage programme who all have a good understanding of the needs of experienced drivers after completing further training. (More information on Engage below).

Over the years, there have been many changes in road traffic law, road layouts, traffic signs and vehicle design, these driving instructors are ideally placed to go through anything the driver is unsure about. This can be help with driving at night, reversing into car park spaces or regaining confidence driving after Covid 19. It can be arranged at a time and place convenient to the driver and could be all it takes to give reassurance, increase confidence, and ultimately help to keep people driving safer for longer.

Virtual Reality (VR)

The road safety team have recently been part of a team who have produced the first virtual reality education film created entirely through crowdfunding and it’s been an amazing experience. This mature driver film is also delivered in workshops across the borough but with smaller groups of 5 drivers for one hour. This lends itself perfectly to many safety awareness and education messages, by immersing viewers in a lifelike environment and presenting hazards, risks and insight that would be too costly, impractical, or dangerous to engineer in a live setting. After this session the driver can sign up for the driving session/assessment as detailed above to increase their knowledge, access support and gain feedback on their driving in a practical way.

Advanced Driving with IAM Roadsmart

The Road Safety team supports IAM RoadSmart who provide drivers in the borough with the opportunity to advance their driving skills and improve safety on the road. The RoadSmart advanced driving course is beneficial for all ages. Those that have taken the course have highly recommended it to others. It is particularly relevant for young drivers, as it is a wonderful way to improve driving skills. Residents aged 25 and under can apply for a full refund of the course fee on passing the IAM RoadSmart advanced driving test whilst funds are available.

Full details of the course can be found on the Chester and Nantwich Advanced Drivers website. Please contact them first to ensure the driver qualifies and funds are available: Young Drivers – Cheshire West & Chester – CaNAD

The Engage Partnership

The Engage Partnership is an educational programme for young and novice learner drivers. 

Engage is a partnership between Cheshire, Merseyside, and Safer Roads Greater Manchester Road Safety partnerships, which includes Local Authorities, Police, Fire and Rescue Services and most importantly local Approved Driving Instructors (ADI’s) to improve driver education for Young Drivers. 

The programme is delivered by ADI’s during normal lesson time specifically designed to increase the learner’s ability to cope with topics that are critical to the safety of inexperienced drivers, their passengers and other road users. ADI’s receive training to expand their learner driver tuition to their pupils in road safety subjects that they often find difficult to engage with. Every member of the partnership is passionate about preparing the young driver for the crucial period after they have passed their driving test. 

Analysis of collision data shows that this is the time when drivers are most vulnerable, and most incidents occur. Topics covered include:

• Distraction
• Fatigue
• Peer Pressure
• In-Car Safety
• Impairment covering alcohol, cannabis, and prescription medication.
• Vulnerable Road Users 
• Basic car Maintenance
• Speed
• Nominated Adult Module

All the above are considered contributory factors in road traffic collisions.

Although the scheme is aimed at young and novice learners the skills learned by the ADIs are transferable to all people who have lessons whether that be new lessons or refreshers. Feedback from those taking up the driving session/assessment have been very positive and high praise has been given to the ‘knowledgeable’ and ‘patient’ Engage ADIs.

For more information, please contact the road safety team: roadsafety@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk