Times-Advocate, 1999-03-24, Page 7R
Wednesday, March 24, 1999
Exeter Times–Advocate
In the News
Expert says graduated licencing could be better
By Craig Bradford
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
Although statistics
show graduated licenc-
ing is decreasing the
carnage on Ontario
roads, a local driving
expert says the system
could be much better.
Bud's Driving School's
Bud Lemon of St. Marys
said although the delay
in young drivers getting
their full driver's licence
through graduated
licencing is good, a delay
is all the program really
offers.
"All it really amounts
to is you're 17 when you
get your licence," Lemon
said. "It's like an
apprenticeship of dri-
ving."
With
graduated
licencing,
drivers
must pass
through
two steps —
G1 and G2
receiving their full
licence.
The two steps have
restrictions including a
ban on alcohol consump-
tion, night time driving
and driving on 400
series highways.
Novice drivers must
have someone with at
least four years of dri-
ving experience beside
them in the passenger
seat .while they drive
over the entire duration
of the G1 stage that lasts
at least eight months.
A driver may graduate
to G2 after passing a
basic on -road test.
Novice drivers can earn
their full driver's licence
by passing another road
test after the 12 -month
long G2 stage.
Ministry of
Transportation statistics
on the impact graduated
licencing is having on
Ontario roads compare
accidents involving the
more than 233,000 peo-
ple who .started driving
in 1993 (the
year before
graduated
licencing
started) and
the more
than
235,000
people who started dri-
ving in 1995. The data
was tracked till 1996.
The study found all age
groups saw considerable
improvement in collision
rates with the greatest
improvement, a 42 per
cent decrease, observed
for novice drivers aged
"All it really amounts
to is you're 17 when
you get your licence."
— BUD'S DRIVING
SCHOOL'S BUD LEMON
— before
10-24 years.
Collision rates by gen-
der also saw the great-
est decrease in the age
20-24 group with a 35
per cent decrease for
male novice drivers and
49 per cent for females.
Male and
female
novice driver
fatal/injury
accidents
also dropped
19 and 34
per cent
respectively,
with the
largest improvement
observed for females
aged 16-44 (a 37-40 per
cent decline).
Fatal collision rates for
the 16-19 year old age
group were three times
that of the general popu-
lation before graduated
licencing. was imple-
mented. Car accidents
were the leading killer
of drivers aged 16-24.
Since the implementa-
tion of graduated licenc-
ing in April 1994, the
overall collision rate for
16 -year-old drivers is
lower than the general
driving population.
The decrease in fatal'
accidents for 16 -year-
old drivers is dramatic
since graduated licenc-
ing started. In 1993,
there were 6.6 deaths
per 10,000 licenced dri-
vers; in 1995, the num-
ber dropped to 1.8.
Collision rates for all
novice drivers dropped a
whopping 31 per cent
compared
with only a
four per tent
drop for the
general dri-
ving popula-
tion over the
same period.
The statis-
tics point to
the benefits of graduat-
ed licencing.
But Lemon said colli-
sion rates for young dri-
vers had to come down
with the program.
"You would have to
believe there would be
less accidents in the first
year now," Lemon said.
"You haven't driven
alone for the first nine
months."
Lemon said one prob-
lem with graduated
licencing he often sees is
novice drivers who have
never been behind the
wheel till they enrol in
his course.
He said parents can
play an important role in
helping their children
become responsible and
The decrease in
fatal accidents for
I 6 -year-old drivers
is dramatic since
graduated licencing
started.
safe drivers.
"I think if co -drivers
(like parents) would get
involved more in • this it
would be better," Lemon
said.
Some parents have the
misconception it is bet-
ter to teach their chil-
dren how to drive on
rural, gravel roads.
Lemon said those par-
ents are missing the
point on why their chil-
dren want to drive in the
first place — freedom.
"They want to get a
licence to get out of St.
Marys (or Exeter)," he
said, and travel to
London and other places
outside their home-
towns.
Lemon feels
important to
teach his novice
drivers to drive
in the the city
that he takes
his students to
either London
or Stratford for
their behind
the wheel lessons.
Because there's next to
no traffic in small towns
like Exeter and St.
Marys, Lemon said peo-
ple learning to drive
there don't get used to
lots of other drivers on
the road.
it's so
"Driving is a socia'
thing," he said, uncle -
lining the fact drivers
interact with others
while getting from points
'A' to 'B'.
Though the basics of
driving courses haven't
changed in Lemon's over
30 years in the business.
(Lemon added all driving
courses use the same
basic book he used when
he started his school in
1968), there are 15
times more vehicles on
Ontario's roads today.
"The challenges to the
driver are incredible,
Lemon said when com-
paring driving 30 yet. s
ago to today.
Lemon stresses novice
drivers, no matter what
their age,
should book
driving
lessons with a
school like his
as soon as
they get their
beginners
permit.
Despite what he sees
as holes in graduated
licencing, ,Lemon sees
"great potential" for the
program, especially if
parents become more
involved with their chil-
dren's driver's educa-
tion.
"The challenges
to the driver are
incredible."
— BUD'S DRIVING
SCHOOL'S
BUD LEMON
Font
On April 1, 1999,
a new territory will Je born.
Nunavut
Nunavut, "our land" in Inuktitut, is the traditional land of the Inuit in
Canada's eastern Arctic. This fifth of Canada's land -mass is home to a
young and dynamic population of about 25,000.
Nunavut faces formidable challenges, but it also holds great promise for
its people. Northerners have always demonstrated resourcefulness,
ingenuity and adaptability. The new Government of Nunavut will reflect
this in a partnership that incorporates the best of traditional Inuit values
and contemporary systems.
Canada -- built through cooperation, an evolving democracy and a
tradition of peace — continues to grow with the birth of this new and
unique territory, Nunavut
I+1
Government Gouvernement
of Canada du Canada