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Motorcycle tips frOMRnd See page 24 WHITY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 17,1989, PAGE 23 Class.ies ESee page 26 AUTEW. Course teaches proper motorcycle techniques BRy Mike Johnston Most motorcycle accidents occur not because drivers go too fast, but rather they drive faster than their ability, says Bob Weil, an economics teacher at Sir San- ford Fleming College in Peter- borou h. Wei 's hopes to cut down on the number of motorcycle acci- dents by teaching drivers how to handie their bikes in an emer- gency situation, and how to pro- perly brake, steer and inspect their bikes before taking te onto the road. He bas run a Canada Safety Council motorcycle course at Sir Sanford Fleming for the past 10 years, and for t he past two, bas hield a similar course at Durham Collegein Oshawa. «ave been bugng Durhamn for eight years to hoId one" says Weil. The course at Durham is avail- able every weekend until Sept. 17 (long weekends excluded, except for the Victoria Day week- end In May). ,One, must have an WR (motor- cycle learner's license) to take part. Cost is $190 and the course is .comprised of 17 bours of instruc- Ïlion in basic and advanced manoeuvers on a bike. «We start the course assuming people know nothing, or wbat tbey do know is incorrect or tbey bavJbad habits," says Weil. Over the next 17 hours riders are instructed on every aspect of oPerating a motorcycle, one Of t he most important beýing the driver's eyes. "A motorcycle is very respon- sive to wbrere you look. We train you to look at tbe patb you want to go in and keep your eyes up,» says Weil. Eye-coordination training in- volves driving around a pre-set course mapped out witb pylons - a more difficult exercise than niost people think, says Weil. «.It trains you to look wbere you want the motorcycle to go. As soon as you look atone of the pylons, you squash tbem.» Before getting on the motorcy- cIe, which is provided, drivers. are also taugbt a proper 10-point check of the motorcycle including an inspection of 'tires, chain, clutch, tbrottle, brakes, born, l lgit indicators, gas and oil. ,Pvers are lso taugbt tbe 'importance of a shoulder check every time they mnove. "Again, tbat is an eye exerc- ise,» says Weil. Clutcb control and gear shift- ing are also taught. Those lessons are usually com- SEE PAGE 24 AS PART of the weekend motorcycle training course at Durham College, trainees are taught how to react to an emergency by drMlng straight at an instructor who points so the driver wvil veer left or right. Free Press Photo Get driving sohool green Iight from your insurance. company Before signi«ng up with a driving scbool, Ontario residents are advised te get the green light from their insurance companies. "If, like many people, you are taldng driver training mainly for the insurance discount, you better make sure the school you pick is acceptable te your insurer, t says Marilyn Gurevsky of the Ontario Ministry o Consumer and Commercial *Relations (MCCR). "Besides, if the school is approved by an insurance. company, that showsB it meats certain ~standard&" Although some municipalities requira driving schools te register, there are few lioensing ragulations tat apply provincewide. In'the absence of municipal bylaws, Ontario driving schools can structure lesns as they like and set up terown prograrus. The. only provincial requirament speciflc-te the industry is that n-car toachers, hold an instrudtes licence issued byr tha Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MT0). .This licence muet ha displayed ini the car dluring lessons, says Greg St. Croix of MTO. To provida guidalines for the in4ustryl, the ministry . has deveélÃ"ped a program, callad Road Worthy,, setting out a clams curriculum and suggested vabicles for instruction. A student text is also producted by MTO. The prograin, whicb bas received accolades acroas North America, is used in higli school driving classes throughout Ontario. Many private driving schools have also adopted the guidelines. In the Road Worthy systam, students must spand a minimum of 20 hours; observing another student at tbe wheel, 10 bours actually driving and 25 bours in clasgroom stud. Ontario aety League (OSL) progara requirements are similar, but don't involve mn-car "observation" sessions. To ba certified by the leagua, achools must provida a list of qualifled instructors, use an approved curriculum and conform te, variaus other rules. A non-profit corporation promoting "safety through education," the OSL lists 211 driving - scboolsas accredited members. League maembers are almoot universaly approved by insurance coinpanies for discount purpoffls. A total of about 375' achools operate ini OntaÀrio.- "Moat are tep noteh, reputable companies, but we do get complaints," smye Guravsky, a C1BmI1YIM. ~'~r'iJ.M "Many are caused by unrealistic expectations, misunderstandings, and sometimes, misleading dlaims. There are always a few scbools around proniising te zoom students througb in two easy lessona." When dealing witb companies not using Road Wortby or OSL guidelines, it is important te get recommandations from friands and ask a lot of questions, she says. Find out bow many bours of in-car and at-desk instruction are provided. What training do classroom teachers have? How many students are in eacb class? Cail the municipality te ask if any local bylaws affect driving schools, Gurevsky sugests. After finding a tew good schools, compare prices. Do course materials,.cost extra? Is the use of a school car for the road test included? If not, how much wiIl that cost? St. Croix recominends taking the test in a car you've driven before. Ensure ail costs and details about lessons are set out in a written contract. Read it carefully. According to Edward Moore of the OSL, most Ontario schools charge $375 te, $450 fora full program. Specials are' offered occasionally. Enrolment in driving achools increased by -three te four per cent each year, the experts say- 0f the 360,000 rtew dri' -ers licensed annually, 65 *te 70 per cent have had so'tie form Of professional instruction, says St. Croix. About 150,000 of ti em attend a -Road Worthy of OSL-certifled prograri. Refresher courses for eising drivers are also enjo:ding gro',ng popularity. IIikewist, advEnced courses such as "sldd scboobE' and performers driving p;ograr are gnigattention. Sidd s -ools teach bow te handle emerg, Dncies and poor road ca wcatber conditions. Performance -drivng ischools SEE PAGE 24 Drive defensively on motorcyc.e -Motorcyclists take te the road ireodnumbers each sprig and aIl too often, an eneoyable activity turns to tragedy. In 1987-88, on highways patrolled by the Ontario Provincial Police, 112 motorcycists and passengers were kiiled. The most common contributinýg factor in fatal motorcycle acci- dents is losa of control at high -peed,-'which, iseoonte4 for' 5f2 par cent of the deaths in 1987-88. Other major causes of fatal acci- vad in accidents becaut e t iey are dents are alcohol consumption not seen b y other driv ,rs. Motor- and failure te yield. cycle headights must Le on at al "Basically, motorcycle opera- ties, aven during the day, and tors face the saine situations as bright, reflective cothing sbould car drivers, except they are driv- ba worn. ing a two-wheel vehicle as "On a motorcycle, even if ppsed te a four-wbeel one. you're in. the rigbt, you lose. Wfhthis type of vebicle, there la Youre mnuch more vultierable less margi for error,».says staff than a car driver or passenger. Boating lips for a safe summer See page 25 1 ip-