38 - Friday, December 7, 1990 - North Shore News __ AUTOMOTIVES _ All motorists need defensive driving skills From page 37 hard to Jearn, but like any skill, they need to be practised before they can be effective. It’s common for drivers to ‘freeze’ when faced with an emergency situation never encountered before. Overcoming fear, through prac- uce, practice, practice is one big step towards being a defensive driver. For those learning to drive for the first time, it is important to Start off on the right foot. While most driving schools teach drivers just enough to pass the provincial road test, there are a few schools that teach emergen- cy driving manoeuvres and defen- sive driving as a basic part of their program. Yeung Drivers of Canada recently invited a number of jour- nalists to sample their driver im- provement program. As well as basic defensive driving techniques such as fcoking well ahead to an- ticipate problems, Young Driver's program includes training in rear crash avoidance, ‘threshold’ brak- ing, and how io avoid obstacles. Chief instructor, Max Ruedy, claims that ‘‘80 per cent of all ac- cidents happen because when people get into a certain situation and don't know what to do, they give up, and let the car do Whatever it may. “If we can give them education, understanding, that they can anti- cipate things out there, they will not give up, they'll handle that car, work thai car, get out of that situation...,"" says Ruedy. Given B.C.'s high rate of injury and death in traffic accidents — iast_ year, 47,471 people were in- jured and 587 killed — ! think it’s high time that something was done to improve driving stand- ards. In my mind, Gefensive driving courses should be made man- datory and the provincial driver's test should be made more com- prehensive. This may be more ex- pensive for the consumer and the government in the short term, but in the long term, the costs saved in terms of medical costs, repair costs, lost wages, and insurance Pay-outs are enormous. Reduced human suffering is another in- calculably important benefit. Defensive driving has a definite pay back, but it appears difficult for governments and politicians to recognize this. A lot of money is sunk into better highways and better cars, but not much into better drivers. Be a responsible host THE B.C. Automobile Associa- tion reminds you to be ‘‘First @ Friend, Then a Host’’ during the holiday season. In its recently released brochure, BCAA gives helpful advice on how to hoid a responsi- ble party. The brochure shows hosts ways to ensure that they don't contribute to the number of drinking drivers on our highways. “Accident statistics for British Coiumbia show that about one in three traffic fatalities are alcohol related. You can help reduce the nightmares on our highways by being a responsible host,’’ says Park Royal Service Centre man- ager Nolan Cooney. Whether it’s giving a small gift to designated drivers, offering plenty of non-alcoholic beverages and serving food throughout the evening, aicohol awareness will make you a responsible friend in- stead of just an accommodating host. The First a Friend, Then a Host brochure provides assistance. They’re free to the public, and available at the Park Royal Ser- vice Centre, located at 908 South Mall, Park Royal Shopping Cen- tre. -NO FRILLS! NO GIMMICKS! -JUST LOW! LOW! PRICES -AND THE GREATEST SERVICE _BEFORE YOU BUY CALL Us" "4100 Lonsdale The businesses below nave generously offered to act as depots for donations. Donations by cheque can be made directly to: The North Van Christmas Bureau West Van Senta Claus Fund PO. Box 86081 PO. Box 91114 North Vancouver, BS. V7L 4J5 West Vancouver, B.C. V7V 3N3 All three donations may be made at: North Shore Credit Union Lonsdale Quay Market 1247 Ross 123 Carrie Cates Court 3131 Edgemont North Shore News Park Royal South 1139 Lonsdale Ave. of food Non-perishable food items only. Please give before December 15. NORTH VANCOUVER Capilano Suspension Bridge 3735 Capilano Road Grouse Mountain 6400 Nancy Greene Way North Shore Wiater Club 1325 Keith Road NV. District Municipal Hall 355 West Queens 1080 Marine Dr. 399 N. Dollarton Queen's Cross Pub 2989 Lonsdale Save-On-Foods Park & Tilford Stong’s 415 Dollarton Hwy. Lynn Valley Centre Sussex Realty 2996 Lonsdale A Shade Better 1705 Marine Drive Beaver Lumber 915 West ist Buy Low Foods 730 West 14th WEST VANCOUVER Pharmasave Windsor Meats Caulfeild Village 1810 Marine Drive Stong’s Cundarave Woodward's Foods 2491 Marine Drive Park Royal North af ae loys Please drop off any new or nearly new toys to any firehall on the North Shore. Toys should be clean and in good condition. For more information: North Van Christmas Bureau 984-9627 West Van Santa Claus Fund 922-4537, 922-6522 after Dec. 3