Valerie Singleton OBE to host GEM webinar on safer mobility for seniors

Registration is now open for GEM Motoring Assist’s forthcoming webinar, hosted by Valerie Singleton OBE. The event, entitled ‘What is safe driving and why should I care?’ takes place on Thursday 15 September at 2pm, and helps to launch this year’s Project EDWARD (Every Day Without A Road Death) week of action.

The theme of Project EDWARD for 2022 is ‘Changing Minds, Changing Behaviour’ and the webinar will take a look at the essential elements of safe driving and some of the issues that can put safety at risk.

Valerie Singleton continues her long and successful relationship with GEM. As well as presenting the organisation’s ‘Still Safe to Drive’ web resource for senior drivers and their families, she remains a regular contributor to GEM’s quarterly membership magazine, Good Motoring.

As an experienced and responsible senior driver herself, Val has also completed two GEM driver assessments in recent years.

Val will be joined in the webinar by Dr Charles Musselwhite, professor of psychology at the University of Aberystwyth and by 80-year-old Margaret Filley, an enthusiastic driver who is now living with macular degeneration and who is therefore required to undertake regular vision checks to ensure she remains safe to drive.

Margaret will be joined by Rob Heard from the Older Drivers Forum for an informative presentation of driver eyesight issues and some practical tips to for staying legal and safe.

Other contributors are:

· June Howlett from Buckinghamshire County Council who will set out what constitutes a worthwhile driver assessment

· David Motton, freelance journalist and road test editor for GEM’s quarterly Good Motoring magazine.

On the webinar agenda will be:

· A summary of the challenges facing older drivers

· A look at viable alternatives to the car

· The key role of family members

· An update on vehicle safety technology

· The value of a driver assessment

· Eyesight issues and how to stay legal and safe

· A question-and-answer session with Val and the speakers

GEM welcomes any senior drivers, their relatives and others with an interest in the subject to join the webinar, which is free to attend.

GEM chief executive Neil Worth said: “We are excited to be supporting this webinar for Project EDWARD, which is an initiative we have backed since its formation in 2016.

“We want to encourage senior drivers to stay mobile, while also ensuring they remain as safe as possible.

“I am sure this webinar will create the opportunity for some worthwhile debate.”

Register now for the free webinar at https://projectedward.org/gem/

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GEM Motoring Assist is a members’ motoring and road safety organisation in the UK. Our aim is to keep our members on the move… whether that’s through our breakdown recovery service or our motoring and road safety expertise.

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