Safety Counc

, Shawn
Conlin

signals

THE North Shore is
renowned for its tight-
knit, community
atmosphere, and this is
not just some lucky

_ fluke of mountain-
dwelling demographics
-~ it is because of the
numerous men and
women who believe
that a fellowship needs
to be created and main-
tained through the
involvement of its resi-
dents.

This sensibility was ever so
prevalent ata luncheon held <
last week by the good folks of
the North Shore Safety
Council (NSSC). Ever heard
of them? Me neither, until
now, and shame on me for
that — these people seem as
adamant about traffic safety
as Tam.

The NSSC was established
back in 1954 and has been
involved in numerous safety
issues and programs ever
since. One of the most recent
achievements of the NSSC is
a new seniors’ traffic safety
and awareness course.

’_ A series of three hour
“Drive Smart Seminars” has
been developed for the
mature driver which, with
frank sincerity, explains “how

‘the aging process affects dri-
ving” and how to deal with
it. Included in this course is a

review of traffic law and other
important driving issues as
they relate to the “60-plus.”

T was pleased to hear that
this program was overbooked
— not because EF think seniors
in general don’t know the
rules, but because it is
encouraging co see drivers
admit that they may be par-
tially to blame for the trou-
bles they're having out there.
There are too many know-it-
alls and instant-experts as it
is.

The NSSC is also respon-
sible for the extremely popu-
lar Elmer Program. Elmer is
an elephant (not a real one,
of course — how safe would
that be?) who travels around
to the North Shore's elemen-
tary schools teaching young-
sters strect smarts and safety.

Knowing full well that
safety habits are best devel-
oped from an early age, the
NSSC was surprised by the
NDP’s amendment to the
bicycle helmet law which now
exempts children under 12
on tricycles from wearing
them (wearing helmets, |
mean, not tricycles). This is
the same government that
asked the NSSC to start 3
bicycle-safety program for
Grades Zand.

Without arguing “trike
crash statistics” and other
moot points, it is important
to remember that the NSSC
wants kids to get into the
dabit of wearing a helmet.

Strangely, the NDP had
asked the NSSC to spearhead
the helmet law campaign.
Now, to add insult to amend-
ment, the NDP has stopped
funding the NSSC altogether.
Further, and in its nonsensi-
cal way, the government has
decided to fund brand new
programs, not the tried and
true and established ones,
Good grief.

Lease from

$399/mo

*O.A.C., call for details

unsung neroes

The NSSC hasn't packed
it in of course; they now
charge a minimal fee for
some of their programs to
offset casts. A small sum of
$16 will get you into the
three-hour refresher course
for seniors where you may
learn sumething new or at
least reinforce your driving
skills.

The Elmer program now
costs a paltry $12 per class
averaging 25 kids (it used to
be free). That's less than 50¢
for every kid learning the
importance of street, fire and
personal safety!

Aside from reaping a few
benefits from the occasional
Casino Night, the NSSC still
has the overwhelming sup-
port of the North Shore’s
three municipal governments
— remember that sense of
community | mentioned?
There are reasons for its
being and reasons to be
thankful...

Anyone wishing to contact

the North Shore Safety

Road Conditions 523-4957
BC Ferries

* schedule 277-0277
* general inquiries 669-1211
B.C. Transit 521-0490

West Van
Blue Bus

AirCare
Kotline

1.C.B.C.

985-7777

Ministry of
Highways

Council for questions and
comment should call 988
7233. Anyone wishing to
enroll in the Seniors’ Safety
Programme can call Lorna
Lloyd-Jones at 983 3303.

Gary Speranza says...
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specialize in ‘All make’

leasing!”

Conserve
your
casi!

Winter's Here!
Dozens of 4X4’s coming
off lease.

Phone about these
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: “Teather interior; fully. londed
294 Ford Exptorer XL,”
green, with beige jeather :
B  intering, 21,000) :
+ 95. BMW SARL auto, 27, 000k.
: greed with cloth interi

For lease quote or
details call Garry

985-0694
CAPRAND

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