The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Town eyeing expansion of driver training road test zone by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff 13 | Friday, September 18, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com New drivers preparing for a road test may soon face new rules about where they can, and cannot, take lessons. During Monday's Administrative Services Committee meeting, Oakville town councillors voted to expand the area permitted for driving instruction in Oakville. Since 2013, the Town has restricted driving instructors to two areas when it comes to giving lessons, in a bid to reduce the impact frequent driving tests have on local residents. "Residents were mostly upset about the volume of traffic in the neighbourhoods. If residents parked on the roads, they would have a number of people trying to test park around their vehicles," said Jim Barry, manager of bylaw services with the Town. "The other concern was constant traffic on streets, if driving schools were testing in the area." The two areas permitted for driving lessons included the Bristol Circle area and a zone bounded by Bronte Road and Dorval Drive, and Speers Road and Wyecroft /South Service roads. The change, headed to council for approval Monday (Sept. 21), would see driving lessons allowed throughout town, except for one prohibited area -- surrounding the Drive Test Cen- tre at 2370 Wyecroft Rd. The proposed prohibited area would be bounded by Upper Middle Road and Lake Ontario, and Third Line and Bronte Road (from Upper Middle Road to Rebecca Street). From Rebecca Street to Lake Ontario, the prohibited area is bounded by Village Wood Park and Shell Park. Town staff said driver training would be permitted on major roads in the prohibited area, including on Third Line, Rebecca Street and Upper Middle, Speers, North Service, Wyecroft, Bronte and Lakeshore roads. Barry said driving schools instigated the change as the two permitted areas were found to be insufficient for driver training. "They couldn't meet the provincial requirements for training within those two areas," he said. "As part of our consultation, they came out and let us know and asked us if there was something we could do. I think it was a good opportunity to work with them and create something that is beneficial to them that still maintains the integrity of residential areas in that prohibited area." Driving instructors are also restricted from giving lessons in any Town park or upon any street abutting and within 152.40 metres of a school or children's playground. Tony Qureshi, the owner of ABC Driving School, said he is satisfied with the changes. "Teaching students close to a school zone or park is prohibited in every city. That's not just in Oakville, that's a good law," he said. "Having this new prohibited area around the Drive Test area, that's an excellent idea because that will give residents in that area peace of mind. Right now there are a lot of people coming into the town and it has become a real high-intensity area with all those vehicles and it has become dangerous for the kids. So I like that that area is prohibited now." If the changes are approved at Monday's council meeting, they will go into effect shortly thereafter. Cécile de Bretan proudly serving the Oakville community Cécile is always here at your time of need or when planning ahead. Get started today! Call Cécile de Bretan for your FREE Planning Kit! 905-842-2252 Look for us on Facebook Visit www.oakviewfuneral.ca for a virtual tour of our funeral home. by Arbor Memorial 56 Lakeshore Road, W., Oakville Arbor Memorial Inc. Oakview Funeral Home Family Owned. Proudly Canadian. a PASSION for living TM HOME · GIFTS · FASHION Thomas Sabo | Pandora | Fine Diamonds | Kameleon | Brighton 15% Off aLL HOMe DeCOr Ancaster 1090 Wilson St. W. 905-304-3044 Burlington 2435 Appleby Line 905-331-4477 Oakville 275 Hays Blvd. 905-257-0067 Join Us... September 5th - 11th DIAMOND DIAMOND GOLD BAEU LER APPRO ED Shop Online ...World's Top op Bou Boutique q Gift Card 2512 Old Bronte Rd. SE c/o Bronte & Dundas, Oakville www.apassionforliving.com 905.827.3331