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Horrors! Subjected to ii" test in Safe Driving Week Angie MacKlnnon Chronicle Staff With winter weather finally with us, Young Drivers of Canada is promoting safe driving week. If you're not sure of your winter driving skills you may VIII! to give Young Drivers of Canada a call to arrange an evaluation. During Safe Driving Week. Dec. l-T, Young Drivers is offering free evaluations to anyone who wants to Fig-e them and arrange a time. In need: X: Molodoe Martinuk Chronicle Staff With less than three months left in its federal start-up grant, staff of K-W's Volunteer Placement Service is turning to the community for permanent funding. The best part of safe driving week to the drivers across Canada is that unknown to them, Young Drivers instructors are watching them. The reaso-they are giving prizes to the drivers who practice defensive driving. Instructors across Canada are watching drivers and noting those who drive defensively. The instructor takes down the person's licence number and car description and sends it in. At the end of the week someone across Canada will own a new Plymouth Reliant. Also drivers in Waterloo Region will be given the opportunity to win an emergency kit for the car valued at Even a media individual will get a chance to win a Panasonic car stereo for the best score from our driving eeluatioets which we were invited to take early this week. For my test, I found myself rather nervon having my dtiyiIttLsiri0s watched ,tter five years of "practice". Totally opposite to the winter \veather fwas supposed to exJrrf.eytt to t_est_r_ny skills} tangled up with Just plain rain. "We've proven ourselves - we feel it is a very worthwhile community service, and now we need demonstrated community support or we won't go on," said Reva Cooper, project manager of the service. Cooper and her two co-workers opened the doors of the Volunteer Placement Service in April, with a $37,000. 48-week Canada Community Development Grant from Employment and Immigration Canada. Its mandate is to match would-be volunteers with the right non-profit agency, so both are happy with the work experience. Well, I thought I knew it all. After all, I can't resist telling someone else what they're doing wrong when I'm in their car. I found that I wasn't being picky enough about my driving habits. Such things as using the lane of least resistance which is the right hand lane and leaving enough swerving space between me and the car in front of me at a stoplight. in case I should need to get into the other lane. Ode of the biggest things stressed to me was that all drivers should drive with their headlights on, no matter what the weather, but especially in the winter. This past Saturday instructors for Young Drivers were giving out silver dollars Since April, the service has placed 290 volunteers with local agencies and compiled a catalogue of more than l,?? positions with 121 agencies that still need to be "As soon as we fill some, they think of more to send in. St. Margaret's Girls" School Christmas Bazaar FRIDAY DEC. 7 CALL 846-5325 ma MORE INFORMAIION 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. HELD IN ELORA AT Community Centre corner Davrd St and The [lore Rd value 400.00 0 Crafts & Accessories and Much More. o Dollhouse raffle Volunteer Placement Service has proven its worth, now it needs the community to show support Come in and discover our great MATERNITY FASHIONS We'll be proud to show you what we have to offer; from sophisticated to casual, from divine to glamorous, plus excellent and expert advice. I 215% to 50"0 on Selected Winter Fashions f"i""fi" W“ M. I“ Nbt822 Mon-8d. 9:30 tun-6 on. Thum. I Fri. ' MM on. no CM I. TM m Mon-8d. 9:30 NIL-6 93.. Tran. . a pm. There's always a need for more volunteers." Cooper said. The service will be approaching city and regional councils, local service clubs and private corporations in its search for the $59,000 staff feel will be needed to operate for another year. She explained that much of the $22,000 budget increase will go towards improving staff salaries, and, because the service will no longer be operating under the sponsorship of Kitchener Parks and Recreation, operating costs and rent will go up. With rising costs and budget cutbacks, Cooper said the only way many charitable agencies and non-profit groups will be able to maintain the quality of programs they offer is through increased use of volunteer help. And, she said. as the need for volunteers grows, so does the importance of a central coordinating service. "it may seem like a lot of money for a new organization. but this is a new organization that helps 121 agencies use their resources better," commented Cooper. "Any money given to us is returned to the community through the volunteers." "Accidents don't have to happen." said Williams. "if we can keep people who have never even put a key into the ignition away from accidents. we think the experienced driver should be able to stay away from them." to anyone they found driving with their lights on. “There could be a an percent reduction (in accidents) it all We used their headlights," said instructor Mary Wil- ' Williams said peole must be made aware of the driving conditions. They doet't take enough precautions to stay away from even near misses. Williams said that part a the brobiem is attitude. Many drivers have an aggressive attitude and it should be more of an assertive attitude, that tends to be much safer. Along with some constructive criticism after your test, the instructors will give you some basic tips for winter driving. Such tips as decreasing speed and increasing following distance because in winter it could take three to five times more than the normal distance to stop. Also look well ahead and drive for visibility. by cleaning all snow and frost off windows. For cars without front wheel drive, keep some salt or sand in the trunk, it will give extra weight and can be used under your tires when stuck. Another thing many drivers don't remember. said Williams, is to carry some extra clothing in their car or even a blanket in case they get stuck somewhere and have to wait in the cold. Williams also said if on some morning you wake up and aren't sure you can drive in what you see out your window, that you should call Young Drivers for a paid lesson. If you don't you may find yourself in a ditch. I found the test somewhat nerve-racking. but for anyone with questions about winter driving it may be worth your while to phone Young Drivers this week and go out on one of their evaluations. especially since the winter weather has finally brought some snow to worry about. "wt do it (tree evaluations) at this time of year on pur- MATERNITY BOUTIQUE NAM am. “my. new 6. ma - PAGE 5 "There's never been a place (in K-W) where volunteers could see what was needed before they went. Because we sit down with the people, find out their interests. and because we know the agencies' needs. 90 per cent of the people who come in here are placed," she said. "And because we screen so carefully. most of our placements are very successful." She noted that. although new to K-W, _ volunteer placement services are common throughout Ontario. and many have been established in much smaller communi- ties than this "where they have become an integral part of the health and social service delivery system." If funding is found to operate in 1985, Cooper said staff and directors would like to expand the service to take in Wellesley and Wilmot Townships and move from their current Victoria Park Pavilion headquarters to a more central location. Cooper stressed that the success of volunteer place- ment services is they know what the agencies need, carefully determine the volunteer's interests and abili- ties, and can make Just the "right" match. irijbitbqri%battaitiPqt%hqNWrb,