Older drivers can brush up their skills on course | Cwrs i fireinio sgiliau gyrwyr hŷn

Older drivers can brush up their skills on course

Older drivers are being reminded that it’s not too late to learn new skills, following a recent survey that revealed Carmarthenshire has one of the highest proportion of drivers over 80.

For the past three years, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Road Safety Unit has been running an Older Driver Refresher Programme, designed to improve the confidence and driving skills of drivers aged 65 and over, to update their road safety knowledge and help them drive safely for longer.

The one-day course involves interactive theory sessions covering driving tasks, the effects of ageing and changes to the Highway Code, signage and road infrastructure. Newer vehicles and their in-car features and modern driving techniques are discussed.

Professional driving instructors also take practical sessions to identify the needs of each driver and undertake an informal general assessment of their driving ability.

Short follow-on courses are also available for drivers who want to take their learning further, covering topics including travelling with grandchildren, making the most of a modern car, and driving on the motorway.

Cllr Hazel Evans, Executive Board Member for Transport, said: “We have an older population in Carmarthenshire, with many people living in rural areas who rely on their cars to maintain their independence and an active lifestyle.

“Our Older Driver Refresher Programme provides the perfect opportunity for people to brush up on the skills, get up to date with modern techniques, vehicles and features, and of course changes to the Highway Code.

“The courses are provided in a non-threatening environment, where participants can be open and honest, share their experiences and discover that they are not alone.

“They will know where they can come to for support in the future and learn how to take control of managing the process, including giving up driving, so that decisions about their driving are timely and their own, not someone else’s.”

·         For further information about Older Driver Refresher Programme visit the council’s website, carmarthenshire.gov.wales, email roadsafety@carmarthenshire.gov.uk or call 01267 228284.
·         Road safety officers will also be at the 50+ Forum event at the National Botanic Gardens on Friday September 15

 Cwrs i fireinio sgiliau gyrwyr hŷn

Mae gyrwyr hŷn yn cael eu hatgoffa nad yw’n rhy hwyr i ddysgu sgiliau newydd, yn dilyn arolwg diweddar a ddatgelodd fod gan Sir Gaerfyrddin y gyfran uchaf o yrwyr dros 80 oed.

Yn ystod y tair blynedd diwethaf, mae Uned Diogelwch Ffyrdd Cyngor Sir Caerfyrddin wedi bod yn cynnal Cwrs Gloywi ar gyfer Gyrwyr Hŷn, a luniwyd i wella hyder a sgiliau gyrwyr sy’n 65 oed a hŷn, i ddiweddaru eu gwybodaeth am ddiogelwch ffyrdd a’u helpu i yrru’n ddiogel am gyfnod hirach.

Mae’r cwrs undydd yn cynnwys sesiynau theori rhyngweithiol sy’n cynnwys tasgau gyrru, effeithiau heneiddio a newidiadau i Reolau’r Ffordd Fawr, arwyddion a seilwaith ffyrdd. Ceir trafodaeth hefyd am gerbydau newydd a’u nodweddion a thechnegau modern o ran gyrru.

Mae hyfforddwyr gyrru proffesiynol hefyd yn cynnal sesiynau ymarferol i nodi anghenion pob gyrrwr ac yn ymgymryd ag asesiad cyffredinol anffurfiol o’i allu i yrru.

Mae cyrsiau byr dilynol hefyd ar gael ar gyfer gyrwyr sydd eisiau dysgu rhagor, gan gynnwys pynciau megis teithio gyda’r wyrion, manteision car modern, a gyrru ar y draffordd.

Dywedodd y Cynghorydd Hazel Evans, Aelod o’r Bwrdd Gweithredol dros Drafnidiaeth: “Mae gennym boblogaeth hŷn yn Sir Gaerfyrddin, gyda llawer o bobl yn byw mewn ardaloedd gwledig sy’n dibynnu ar eu ceir i gynnal eu hannibyniaeth a’u ffordd egnïol o fyw.

“Mae ein Cwrs Gloywi ar gyfer Gyrwyr Hŷn yn gyfle perffaith i bobl fireinio’u sgiliau, i gael y diweddaraf am dechnegau, cerbydau a nodweddion modern, ac wrth gwrs newidiadau i Reolau’r Ffordd Fawr.

“Caiff y cyrsiau eu darparu mewn amgylchedd nad yw’n fygythiol, lle gall y cyfranogwyr fod yn agored ac yn onest, rhannu eu profiadau a darganfod nad ydynt ar eu pennau eu hunain.

“Byddant yn gwybod lle y gallant gael cymorth yn y dyfodol a dysgu sut i gymryd rheolaeth o reoli’r broses, gan gynnwys rhoi’r gorau i yrru, er mwyn ceisio sicrhau bod y penderfyniadau ynghylch eu gyrru yn rhai amserol ac yn benderfyniadau y byddan nhw yn eu gwneud, nid rhywun arall.”

·         Am wybodaeth bellach am y Cwrs Gloywi ar gyfer Gyrwyr Hŷn ewch i wefan y Cyngor, sirgar.llyw.cymru, e-bost roadsafety@sirgar.gov.uk neu ffoniwch 01267 228284.

·         Bydd Swyddogion Diogelwch Ffyrdd hefyd yn bresennol y digwyddiad Fforwm50+ yn yr Ardd Fotaneg Genedlaethol, ddydd Gwener 15 Medi.