26 — Friday, March 6, 1992 — North Shore News PHYSICALLY DISABLED motorists will get a unique chance to learn advanced driving skills like skid con- trol, emergency manoeuvres ~ ey = AUTOMOTIVE New facility targets driver training for disabled and crash avoidance, start- ing this spring. They'll do so at a new school sponsored by Nissan Canada Inc. and the Nissan School of Perfor- Physically challenged motorists will be able to tearm skid control end crash avoidance techniques at a unique schoo! sponsored by Nissan this summer. Chief instructor Brett Goediman siands ‘behind John McRoherts who will be one of the schcol's first students. Seated in the speciaily-equipped Axxess van is Nissan vice-president Yves Boyer. V-8 Automatic 4 speed, cassette Stereo, cruise/tilt Bedliner, A/C 1992 GHC FU 4X4 PICK-UP Automatic, V-8, bedliner Cruise/tiit steering 525-0408. SIZE DELUXE Stereo, air cord. cruise, power windows & iocks - much more. “1S92 GMC SIERRA Aluminum wheels Stereo, tilt steering and much more! ONLY $13,988 5 mance Driving, and operated by the Nissan School with expert ad- vice from Toronto’s Hugh Mac- Millan Rehabilitation Centre. Initially, classes will be offered only at the Nissan School’s home base — Ontaric’s Shannonville Motorsport Park, near Belleville. Shannonville is North America’s best and safest performance driver training facility with a dedicated skid-pad and a race-track almost entirely free of trackside hazards. (Travelling classes may be added tater.) Launch of the program follows a test session at Shannonville, last Oct. 25. At that- event, Nissan School instructors, working with driver-training experts from the MacMillan Centre spent a day teaching six disabled students. Each student had one or more disabilities ranging from brain damage to cerebral palsy, under- developed limbs, severe arthritis, and stroke-induced partial paraly- sis. Margaret Young, director of driver education at the MacMillan Centre considers the day an un- qualified success, and has no doubts about the value of the resultant program from Nissan, ‘saying: ‘“‘In our existing driving program at the MacMillan Centre we do two things. We evaluate the disabled who wish to drive, to determine their level of skill and to assess the kind of driving aids that would suit them best. Then we teach them how to drive using the adaptive controls ~~ hand controlled brakes, for..example. The obdjective to that point is to prepare students to pass a driving test.’” ‘*But,’’ Ms. Young continues, “even the most conscientious driver will encounter emergencies created by traffic or roadway conditions. ability to analyze critical situations and to maintain control’ of the vehicle will help to reduce the likelihood and severity of acci- dents — just as it would for any able-bodied driver.’ “The Nissan program will help these drivers learn the.limits of their physical skills as. well as those of the vehicle. ft will also A_ disabled driver’s: teach them to compensate for these limits through hands-on ex- perience, with individual attention from highly skilled instructors.”” Bret Goodman, chief instructor for the five-year-old Nissan School of Performance Driving, says of those who participated in the October session: ‘‘Not all did equally well, but some were able to handle crisis situations better than many able-bodied students we've taught, and each learned important lessons about their driv- ing skills.” Nissan Canada spokesman Max Wickens says: ‘‘That’s exactly what we wanted in conceiving and establishing this program — to. offer disabled drivers a chance to enhance skills while building con- fidence in their driving ability — especially coping with driving emergencies. ‘*And we're delighted that Brett Goodman will head this project. Apart from being a superb race driver, an expert on safe driving and the Performance Driving School's chief instructor, he’s uniquely qualified to work with the disabled. “While he spends his summers teaching at the wheel, as an avid skier, he has spent several recent winters volunteering as a coach and guide with the Canadian Na- tional Disabled Ski Team, which competes internationally.”’ In the October test session, the six disabled students used a varie- ty of vehicles including existing Nissan school vehicles, like 240SX and 300ZX sportscars, and a Maxima sedan. For the season ahead, Nissan expects to add at least one Axxess sport-wagon to the school fleet. Goodman points out that: **Axxess has already proven very accessible for disabled drivers, as well as relatively easy to adapt to hand controls. it is also useful to teach in a van or wagon since that’s what many disabled drivers choose when they purchase vehi- cles for themselves.’? Students may also use their own vehicles at the school, if they wish. The schooi doesn’t expect there will be any shortage of applicants for the six one-day courses to be offered this year. **We’re in touch -with a large number of drivers through par- ticipation in the Roadeo/Rally held for disabled motorists each year,’’ says Ms. Young. “‘A wide cross-section of drivers from all over the province participate — even those who didn’t learn to drive at the Hugh MacMiilan Centre. Because there are no other opportunities for them to take a course such as this, I am sure interest will be very high. “Since Nissan and the Nissan school are subsidising the pro- gram, it will be well within the means of those who wish to par- ticipate.” The subsidies mean disabled students will pay only $138 for a course that costs able-bodied drivers up to $500 a day. In addi- tion, disabled drivers. who own or buy a Nissan vehicle can claim a rebate of their $138 fee after tak- ing the course — effectively mean- ing they get the course free of charge. NV resident up for Gemini DEEP COVE director Brad Turner is in the running for a Gemini Award for an episode of the TV series, Mom P.I., starring Stuart Margolin and Rosemary Dunsmore. It’s the fifth Gemini nomina- tion for Turner, who has { directed such TV series as Beachcombers, Northwood, Street Justice and The Com- mish. This time he’s up against directors of Street Legal and E.N.G. Tune into the Geminis this Sunday on CBC at 8 p.m. to find out who wins. “Coming Soon. Get Your Car Ready to Roll this Spring Now is the time to see how your car weathered through the winter. Watch for the Spring Car Care Guide in your Friday March 27th edition of the North Shore News. Look for practical advice on products and services to keep your car performing. From hints for the experienced do-it-yourselfer to words of advice from seasoned veterans. THE VOICE OF NORTH AND WEST ARCOUVER _ ra north shor . oat : x aig _E woo