From page 3

Likewise, Ontario reported

a 31% reduction in crashes

among all novice drivers with

fatality and injury rates drop-
ping 24%.

. However, while all new dri-
vers are bound to the restric-
tions of the GLP, not all new
drivers are required to take a
driver education course.

That ‘worries Paul
Hodgson, the car division
_adminiswator with North
: Shore Driving School.

“If you don’t mind going

: «Six months — — and there’s basi-

--training — you could be as

te as you could be (with
old system) and still pass,”

nee “estimated that 80% of

le currently enrolled with
school are GLP students. ~

a hard look at-makin atleast a

ommended that the Ministry of . -

Education include mandatory

LEVEL 2 ROAD TEST

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B post-test dracon with the exarnmer. Test

BE coNErS advanced diewng shulls wth a focus of

LEVEL 1 ROAD TEST
(Afes 3 Tereoum of sax-months dmang expenence
wit a Leamer perma (which can be feduced to
three months wath approved orver tracreng) the
Orv Dies a 3G marasa test of banc vetwcte:
hanring skits, such 23 steering. braking. ung
tum Sgnaks, ant ruies af the road. Onves moves.
torn Lecres stage of GP to Nonce stage.

NEWS graphic Norisa Anderson

THERE are two components to the Graduated Licensing Program (GLP).

encourage teachers to consider
incorporating road safety topics
into their lessons.”

However, Hodgson is quick
to point out that most new dri-
vers he secs . are. responsible
when on the zoad. ;

: “It’s always been’ the case
__ Since we te had . automobiles

t some (teenagers) are going
to have accidents T don’t think
_,that anything can completely

“eliminate them.” . .

He said the ultimate arbiters

‘of safe driving are still the par-

-_ents of young drivers. “Parents

know ‘their kids better than

“anyone does,” he said. “Better

‘docs; and ‘they hav the
absolute authority.

: He also said: hat most par-:

~Sents are unware that they have

5 the power to have their child’s

cence. revoked “up. une the”

comes down to the judgement
of the person behind the wheel.

“Certain things don’t
change with time,” she said.
“You want to get your car and
you want to go fast but (GLP)
is the best way that we see to
educate, and hopefully it sends
the right message.”

i

Of unt concern to
Tan Downs is that his son’s
death doesn’t become yet
another statistic. He wants his
family’s experience to serve as
an example not just for teenage
drivers but for parents as well.

Lauren, Nick’s demure, 13-
year-old sister, close to her
mother, Debbie, as Ian talks.

At times, she doesn’t seem

‘to ‘fully grasp the fact thar her

brother is truly gone. It’s

“almost as if she expects him to

come walking back through the

_ door at any motnent.

“He was always looking out

. and making -sure I was out’ of

trouble, but he’ never told on
me,” she says, aiid breaks ii into a

Ian is in’ the process of

establishing a foundation in:
 Nick’s name to assist children:

ean

with learning disabilities.

During his formative years

Nick bounced from school to
school, driven and determined
to succeed but hampered and
frustrated by dyslexia. Despite
it all, says Debbie, he perse-
vered, and — with the help of
tutors -—— started to come into
his own while a student at
Collingwood.
“Nick liked it there,” says
Tan. “He started to blossom.
He met friends | and gained
some self-esteem.”

“He was a good kid but he
was misunderstood because of
the dyslexia,” adds Debbic.
“He struggled so hard and I’m
so proud of him.”

Tan said the su
Collingwood students

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Sunday, May 28, 2000 - North Shore News — 13

uired

teachers have shown the family
has been overwhelming.

The school even hosted a
memorial service in Nick’s
honour shordy after the acci-
dent. And while Debbie was
touched by the numbers of stu-
dents that showed up at the
service to grieve for their
schoolmate, she said the most
poignant moment came after-
ward. That was when a fellow
student of Nick’s approached
the family after the service and
told them just how much
Nick's death had affected his

fe.

“He said he was going out
to his car but then he stopped
and thought that he’d better
go and give his mother that
second hug,” said Debbie.

“Hold your children tight.
They're only loaned to us for a
very short time. They’re trea-
sures, but they’re not ours to
keep.” She wipes a tear away as
Tan nods in agreement, the cor-
ners of his mouth showing
signs of a first smile.

“Every morning and every
night before he would go to

bed he'd say to me ‘I love you, .
Dad.’ Ever since he was young’.

he did that. Children ‘are so
precious and so special.”

Youth grants
available

From paac3

@ Tuning Up — A Manual
for New Drivers and Co-
Pilots: This practical guide
for developing safe driving
practices includes driving
practice tips, self-rating scales
and quizzes to help new dri-
vers improve their driving
knowledge and skills;
| Road Sensibility:
Designed for young le
who have not yet reached di
ving age, Road Sensibility is a
classroom-based propram of
field tips, speakers and case
studies designed to instill a
safe driving culture and -
responsible driving attitudes
long before the new drivers
hit the roads;
B Youth Grants: The youth
t program gives young
erople ages 13 to 21 the
Opportunity to make a real
ference towards improving ©
road safety in their communi-

y..
For more information’ on

~ ICBC’s. road « safety; youth

programs and initiatives; visi
oot in. or eal 662

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