A SEMINAR designed to encourage over-50s to improve their driving skills is being held in Northallerton.

It is one of three taking place, aimed at keeping more mature car drivers safely on the road.

The free event is being organised by North Yorkshire County Council's road safety team in conjunction with the Driving Standards Agency (DSA).

It will be carried out by an experienced DSA driving examiner and will last for about an hour. A short video will be shown and there will be an opportunity for discussion of the issues raised.

Those who attend will not be asked to undertake tests, but it is hoped they will share their experiences and acknowledge how the ageing process can affect driving.

John Everson, from the road safety team, said driving was more complex and demanding than it used to be and more traffic on the road meant motorists had to process more information.

He said: "Older motorists bring a wealth of experience, confidence and tolerance to their driving, but as you grow older your ability to interpret the movements and intentions of other drivers and react to situations gradually changes.

"While it is true that older drivers should be less likely to have an accident due to making fewer and shorter journeys and often travelling in daylight and on familiar routes, research has revealed that there is a slow but steady increase in the number of motoring accidents when reaching middle age."

The presentations will be held at RMB Toyota, Thurston Road, Northallerton, today, at 7pm, and tomorrow at 11am and 2pm.

For further details, call Mr Everson on (01609) 533086.