Page 18, Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, November 20, 1996 ,e Seniors to go back tdriving schoolý The province has set Up a new senior driver education programi believed to b. more effective than road tests at improving driving skrills for those aged 80 and older.. The, new program came into effect on Oct. 28. Every two years, drivers aged 80 and older will take a vision and knowledge test combined with a new 9-minute group education session that focuses on issues facing older drivers. These include physical changes that occur with aging and how those changes affect driving skcills. A 1994 pilot study indicated that education sessions are more effective in increasing an older drivers awareness of driving risks than the road test. Under the new program, th1e ministry estimates fewer than 10 per cent of senior drivers wlll be required te Changes help to get unsafe trucks off road Transportation Minister AI Palladini recently introduced legislation that introduces a carrier safety rating system and allows the government te identify and rernove unsafe trucks from the road faster. The carrier rating system will make a companys safety rating public so that anyone doing business with a carrier company will know whether safety is their business. .The public record includes a listing of any convictions, collisions and vehicle detentions - resuits from an audit at the carrier's place of business - and the overal safety rating. Action will be taken more quickly if a company has an unacceptable number of truck safety violations. A company under or pending sanction will not be able to get into the trucking business by using a new company name. In -addition, the Registrar of Moter Vehicles will be able te remove unsafe trucks from roads more quickly by taking immediate measures such as denying an operating licence to a truck or bus operater under or pending sanction. AUDIO I VIDEO Ail Serving Brands 65 ru«?£ Durhamf On Premises Since 1973 * *Writen Guarantee *Low carry-in rates *Factory Trained Technicians *VCR *Caniorer*T~lel *Se *CD Ploywer *Casete *Cords Phone *AmpItfjrs *Walkman *Car Stereo VCR SP2EkIAL * Free cleïaing rR* Fre eR Ilt * Expires Dec 31/96 Custone Electromotive 1150 Champain Court Whltby 668-6429 Ad award GUS'BROWN (right) holds a Prix Impact Award gien to his deaiership for an advertisement, hedby Don Switzer, that ran in The Free Press Iast spring. GM district sales manager Mark LaPointe.(left) presented the award. Photo by Mark Roesor, Whîtby Fme Pres Lowest price for check-up may flot be- Whether you're driving an '82 sedan or a late-model Porsche, experts at Ontario's Ministry of Consumer and Commercial. Relations say knowing about the Motor Vehicle Repair Act can help ensure your winterizing work and repairs are done for a reasonable price. If you don't know much about car repairs - an~d most people don't, now that there seem to be more computers than motor parts under the hood - you may b. fearful of being overcharged by garages. The best precaution is to ask friendsa, family and co-workers te recommend a good garage. Once you're satisfied with the quality of work and the prices, stick with the same shop. Special discount offers for seasonal inspections and maintenance may seem to be a good idea. But the lowest price for a check-up may not be the best deal in the long run. According te. -provincial law, repairers' labour rates and how they are calculated (on a fiat or hourly basis) must be posted on a sign big enough te b. clearly seen. If Under new lan Option increases accide nt benefits By the Inuurance Bureau of Canada On Nov. 1,* Ontario implemented a new system of automobile insurance. Although vehicle owners, must have certain minimum levels of auto insurance by law, they are now able te buy the insurance that best suits their requirements. Owners who bought new policies or renewed policies before Nov. 1 will have purchased the old Bill 164 plan with its generous mandatory benefits. When the law changed Nov. 1, VAN HEMMEN- TIRES insurance companies ensured that consumers continued te get what they paid for by autematically providing options which bring their contracta back in lin. with the Bull 164 system. There is no extra cost for this. Differences between the old and new include: *a limit of $400 on weekly income replacement benefits from the old plan's $1,000, 0 a limit of $172,000 for medical, rehabilitation and attendant care expenses for non-catastrophic i4~uries;. 0 the right te sue for economic lose; the previous system didn't allow for it. 1 In addition, yoùi will be] offered the option te, buyi increased accident benelits.3 The options will allow you te choose an insurance package that best suits your needs. For instance, you could choose te index income replacement benelits te the cost of living. You could increase the weekly income replacement limit to $600, $800 or $1,000 or add a $1 million limit for medical, rehabilitation and attendant- care expenses beyond the Atandard coverage. You could also change your deductibles (the portion cf dlaims cost you agree. te pay for YourselO. If's your choice. As well as 'the policy choices you make, you can help control the cost of your premiums by how you driveP what you drive and where you drive. needed, it may make sense ta pay a bit more for the inspection but less for repairs, which are likely to be the more expensive portion of the. final bill. Before work is started, the act requires the repairer tu provide a written estimate upon request. It muet include the following: ,@ the name and address ol the customer and repairer; Ilthe make, model, vehicle identification number and licence number of the vehicle; e a description of the repaire te be made; *the parts te be installed, and whether* they will be new, used or reconditioned;, *prices of the parts; *total labour costs; and, *the date the estimate ie given and the date after which it no longer applies. By law, if a fee is charged for the« esfimate,.you must be told ini advance. .After the garage ie authorized te, do the work, the- final bull cannot be more than 10 per cent greater than the estimate without your consent. The act also provides an autematic 90-day w*arranity nn ail new and reconditioned parts and associated labour.. To help the non. mechamicaIIy minded' gel started on their car service programs, mimistry experte have prepared a liet of item E ta include in the fali maintenance check:, *' ignition systema icludn spark plug, i tion leadla, distributer cap, etc.) 0 electrical (battery, starter, block heater) 9 cooling systemn (coolant fush and replacement) ,@lubrication (ail and filter hfange) ,0 tires (including change to vinter tires for those who lont have the -all-weather rariety) le wiper blades and washer eservoir (blades replaced, ervoir- filled with low- enperature test fiuid) e rust check If the mechaniýc finds other roblems with your vehicle bat need attention, having epair work done before the, 10W starts flying can spare oui the aggravation and ipense of waiting for a tew iick in a blizzard. TOLL FREE 1-800-668-9247 668-m2003 1013 Dundas St. E., Whltby Mobile Service * Guar antedWork IYHTBIY AUTO GLASS- 1 :r 1> dm -, -, Lj,ý