An article written in the Toronto Star this past Saturday Aug 23, 2008 indicated that there was a great divide between Insurers and Customers.
The insurance industry is looking for reforms to reduce cost pressure...otherwise there is going to be an average price increase of 18% in insurance premiums in 2009.
Meanwhile, many people are already feeling like they are paying too much for car insurance, while others want to receive more for what they are already paying. Feeling the most cheated and abused are the third party victims and their families. They argue that insurance policies do not cover enough as they struggle physically and financially from vehicle collisions.
To read the whole Toronto Star article click on the link above.
Car accidents...crashes...collision...wrecks...whatever you want to call them, they are a huge problem which not only affects our daily lives...like the incident that occured yesterday closing the 400 in both directions just north of Barrie...on a busy Sunday afternoon...!!! Collisions are a problem for the victims and their recovery, plus for the insurance company which spills over into the insurance industry as a whole...so what is the solution...???
How about re-training for drivers...not only those who have had incidences...but what about as a proactive measure...??
It has never been a popular notion for people to take a re-training program - if asked most people believe they are good drivers...they believe everyone else is at fault...!!! People will take golf lessons to improve their score or they will take music lessons or lessons to learn a new language to improve their skills, but something like driving they assume a program they may or may not have taken when they were 16 would be good enough to last them a lifetime...hmmm...that doesn't make a lot of sense...now if we somehow matched an improvement program with a reduction in insurance rates, it will not only motivate drivers to take the much needed re-training that we all need...but it might actually reduce the amount of incidences on our road ways...???
Monday, August 25, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Getting a Learner's Licence
When you were 15 approaching 16...all you could think about was getting your learner's permit...to be able to get behind the wheel of your parents car to experience the joys of driving...!!! Today I dare say that anything has changed...15 year olds are still anxious to be a New Driver...!!!
Ever province has a Driver's Handbook specific to that provinces driving rules, regulations and laws. So the first step in getting a Learner's permit is to get a hold of that Driver's Handbook to read and review. Everything you need to prepare you for the Government test is contained in those Handbooks.
We recommend that you go to a really well designed website called Learnersprep.com
Learnersprep has taken each provincial Driver's Handbook and have created quizzes similar to what you will find when you write the Government test for your Learner's permit.
The quizzes cover a variety of topics found in the Driver's Handbook and mimic how the Government writes their tests.
Learnersprep has created a special page referral system for all incorrectly answered questions. For every question you have answered incorrectly - when you get to the end of your quiz you will be shown the questions that you have answered incorrectly and beside those will be a page number - which sends you back to the provincial handbook to review the material that you have answered incorrectly!
It is a fun and interactive way to learn the material you need to know to pass the written Government Test!
Some Tips...
1. You are going to have to know and be able to answer distance questions - how far to park away from a fire hydrant...how far to stop behind a school bus when the signals are flashing...!!!
2. You are going to have to know all about stopping positions - stop signs: with and without stop lines, cross walks and no markings...stop lights: with and without stop lines, cross walks and no markings....!!!
3. You are going to have to know and be able to answer any and all road signs and road marking questions...!!!
4. You are going to have to know and be able to answer a lot of Right-of-Way questions...!!!
5. You are going to have to know and be able to answer questions about graduated licensing and demerit points...!!!
Check out Learnersprep.com to help you "Prepare to Pass"
Ever province has a Driver's Handbook specific to that provinces driving rules, regulations and laws. So the first step in getting a Learner's permit is to get a hold of that Driver's Handbook to read and review. Everything you need to prepare you for the Government test is contained in those Handbooks.
We recommend that you go to a really well designed website called Learnersprep.com
Learnersprep has taken each provincial Driver's Handbook and have created quizzes similar to what you will find when you write the Government test for your Learner's permit.
The quizzes cover a variety of topics found in the Driver's Handbook and mimic how the Government writes their tests.
Learnersprep has created a special page referral system for all incorrectly answered questions. For every question you have answered incorrectly - when you get to the end of your quiz you will be shown the questions that you have answered incorrectly and beside those will be a page number - which sends you back to the provincial handbook to review the material that you have answered incorrectly!
It is a fun and interactive way to learn the material you need to know to pass the written Government Test!
Some Tips...
1. You are going to have to know and be able to answer distance questions - how far to park away from a fire hydrant...how far to stop behind a school bus when the signals are flashing...!!!
2. You are going to have to know all about stopping positions - stop signs: with and without stop lines, cross walks and no markings...stop lights: with and without stop lines, cross walks and no markings....!!!
3. You are going to have to know and be able to answer any and all road signs and road marking questions...!!!
4. You are going to have to know and be able to answer a lot of Right-of-Way questions...!!!
5. You are going to have to know and be able to answer questions about graduated licensing and demerit points...!!!
Check out Learnersprep.com to help you "Prepare to Pass"
Thursday, August 14, 2008
A Few Tips for Parents to Keep Young & New Drivers Safe
There was an article in the Hamilton Spectator Thursday March 22, 2007 that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
The article indicated that a survey was conducted by The Allstate Foundation in the US which shows that while parents know that car crashes caused by teenaged drivers are the leading causes of crashes, the survey found that while parents agree they must play a significant role in preparing their teens to drive, many still delay safe driving conversations, allow their teens to drive or ride in dangerous conditions and model unsafe behaviour behind the wheel.
The survey encompassed more than 1000 parents of teenagers aged 15 to 17.
According to the survey, nearly 50% of parents polled think crashes involving teens result from drunk drivers; in reality, the majority are caused by driver error, speeding and driving with distractions.
The Allstate foundation suggests the following:
The article indicated that a survey was conducted by The Allstate Foundation in the US which shows that while parents know that car crashes caused by teenaged drivers are the leading causes of crashes, the survey found that while parents agree they must play a significant role in preparing their teens to drive, many still delay safe driving conversations, allow their teens to drive or ride in dangerous conditions and model unsafe behaviour behind the wheel.
The survey encompassed more than 1000 parents of teenagers aged 15 to 17.
According to the survey, nearly 50% of parents polled think crashes involving teens result from drunk drivers; in reality, the majority are caused by driver error, speeding and driving with distractions.
The Allstate foundation suggests the following:
- Talk with your child early and often: The survey shows most parents do not talk to their teens about safe driving until a year or less before their teens receive a permit to drive. This is long after the teens' attitudes toward driving have developed. When their children are 12 or younger, 77% of parents discuss the dangers of smoking, 72% discuss drugs and 70% discuss peer pressure but only 27% discuss safe driving!
- Shake the "not my teen" syndrome: The survey finds that while two-thirds of parents polled think teens in general are bad drivers, 88% trust their own children to drive safely, and 55% believe that if their teen were in a crash, it would be someone else's fault.
- Restrict dangerous driving situations: 90% of respondents permit their teens to drive after dark, even though they are twice as likely to crash at night as during the day; 77% allow their teens to drive with friends, even though the chances of crashing increase in proportion to the number of teen passengers in a car; and 69% allow their teens to drive in bad weather.
- Practice what you preach: While 99% of parents polled say it is helpful for their teens to see good driving behaviour from them, 71% of the parents have talked on a cellphone while driving with their teens in the car; 62% have operated a radio, MP3 player, game or other device while driving; and more than a quarter have broken a law, such as running a red light or stop sign, with their teens in the car.
A good foundation for any life skill begins as usual at HOME - a good Driver Training Program is an essential first step which must be followed up with Parental Involvement!! Start Early and Talk Often...!!!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Ministry of Transportation in Ontario
Well Today was the day for our New Classroom to be inspected in Burlington, Ontario. When we decided to make the switch from our former franchised program to DriveWise and knew that the DriveWise Safe Start program included Simulation Training, we looked at our facility in Burlington and knew there was no way we could squeeze in a simulator large or small...!!! We had managed to get 24 students squeezed into that classroom but it was tight. Luckly a dog groomer below us decided to move out and we took over their vacant spot. Tim and our friend John Ziemba spent many hours gutting the space and re-building the site to be useable as a classroom facility and this included building in steel double doors to get the simulator in and out of. We put all the finishing touches on the space over the August long weekend and today was the day for the MTO Inspection/Audit. We had a lot of stuff to prepare prior to the Auditors arrival, wanting to ensure that all of our documentation was ready for him to inspect. Plus we had to ensure that our vehicles and instructors came in to have their vehicles inspected as well. We had a lot of nervous anticipation last night as I suppose anyone awaiting an audit would. Inspector Fred came into the facility and took some pictures and even had a go on the simulator. He tried the Classroom Performance System, inspected the instructors, inspected all of our paperwork and took a lot of pictures. At the end of our inspection he said we ran a really good tight business!!
When you run your own business and you put a lot of care and attention into every detail, it is great to have someone notice your effort. It is even better when it is a regulating body like a Government Inspector.
The driver training industry in general, widely ranges in degrees of professionalism within the schools or facilities themselves. You have the big franchised schools where you are more or less assured of some quality standards but even within those organizations the school owners themselves can fall short of the mark, if the franchisors aren't keeping a close eye. Then you have the independent schools who are only regulated and governed by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), these small schools if run properly, following all of the guidlines as outlined by the MTO, will find the economics of delivering the program very challenging unless they are pricing their program in the range of $700.00 as a course fee. Let's do the Math...
An MTO approved course priced at $500.00 or lower will find the following constraints...
The course includes 10 hours in-car training time - 500.00 divided by 10 hours is $50.00 per hour wow great wage...now we have to account for a car payment/repairs/gas and let's not forget insurance (part of being involved with a large group means lower insurance costs) - now we need someone to answer the phone to schedule all of those lessons, oh ya and keep all of the paperwork in order and fill out the certificate and pay the MTO certification fee. Now the school will need to pay rent for a permenant facility as that is also part of the MTO guidelines. You will probably need to have a little money to advertise the program and finally let's not forget we need to deduct the cost of providing 25 hours of classroom time as part of the program.
So what do we end up with...???
If you are purchasing a Driver Training program for under $500.00 - if the school is providing everything they are suppose as guided by the MTO - then the person delivering the in-car portion of the program is probably making less money per hour then someone who is only making minimum wage...!!!!
Think about this...when you are learning how to drive you are learning a LIFE SKILL...a skill that will not only stay with you for life...but which will also one day SAVE YOUR LIFE...If you make something like Driver's Education CHEAP...aren't you valuing your life at that same level...???
Some of the new measures, checks and balances that are being put in place by the MTO are necessary steps in achieving some conformity within the driver training industry. Although I was not thrilled to have to scramble to get all of my paperwork together to be inspected again in less then a years time since my last inspection, I was happy to see how thoroughly they looked over all of our documents and made sure that we were and continue to be in compliance with and living up to their standards.
Great job today DriveWise Burlington team...you did us proud...!!!
When you run your own business and you put a lot of care and attention into every detail, it is great to have someone notice your effort. It is even better when it is a regulating body like a Government Inspector.
The driver training industry in general, widely ranges in degrees of professionalism within the schools or facilities themselves. You have the big franchised schools where you are more or less assured of some quality standards but even within those organizations the school owners themselves can fall short of the mark, if the franchisors aren't keeping a close eye. Then you have the independent schools who are only regulated and governed by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), these small schools if run properly, following all of the guidlines as outlined by the MTO, will find the economics of delivering the program very challenging unless they are pricing their program in the range of $700.00 as a course fee. Let's do the Math...
An MTO approved course priced at $500.00 or lower will find the following constraints...
The course includes 10 hours in-car training time - 500.00 divided by 10 hours is $50.00 per hour wow great wage...now we have to account for a car payment/repairs/gas and let's not forget insurance (part of being involved with a large group means lower insurance costs) - now we need someone to answer the phone to schedule all of those lessons, oh ya and keep all of the paperwork in order and fill out the certificate and pay the MTO certification fee. Now the school will need to pay rent for a permenant facility as that is also part of the MTO guidelines. You will probably need to have a little money to advertise the program and finally let's not forget we need to deduct the cost of providing 25 hours of classroom time as part of the program.
So what do we end up with...???
If you are purchasing a Driver Training program for under $500.00 - if the school is providing everything they are suppose as guided by the MTO - then the person delivering the in-car portion of the program is probably making less money per hour then someone who is only making minimum wage...!!!!
Think about this...when you are learning how to drive you are learning a LIFE SKILL...a skill that will not only stay with you for life...but which will also one day SAVE YOUR LIFE...If you make something like Driver's Education CHEAP...aren't you valuing your life at that same level...???
Some of the new measures, checks and balances that are being put in place by the MTO are necessary steps in achieving some conformity within the driver training industry. Although I was not thrilled to have to scramble to get all of my paperwork together to be inspected again in less then a years time since my last inspection, I was happy to see how thoroughly they looked over all of our documents and made sure that we were and continue to be in compliance with and living up to their standards.
Great job today DriveWise Burlington team...you did us proud...!!!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
What is a Blended Learning Environment?
A Blended Learning Environment is an environment which incorporates different learning methodologies into one training program to account for each individuals different style of learning retention. All people are not created equal...I'm sure we all know that...!!! What makes us different & unique can pose as a challenge in a classroom setting. Some people by watching, some learn by hearing information, while others learn by a combination of the two plus hands on doing. So when you create a training program and you want it to be effective you must have an combination of all of those elements.
One amazing new piece of technology that has been incorporated into the DriveWise program allowing us to achieve maximum learning retention for all students is called the Classroom Performance System (CPS units). The CPS unit looks like a TV channel changer or clicker, each one is numbered and given to each student on their first day of class. The CPS unit is similar to the devices used on the TV show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire". When Regis Philbin asks the contestant if they want to poll the audience and the audience bends down picks up a device which they all vote into and then there is a graph that appears instatly showing the results of the vote. The CPS units do the same thing. The students are taught a lesson and right away after the lesson is complete the instructor gives them a quiz. The students use their clicker to select which answer to the quiz they feel is correct. The instructor will get instanteous results for the class as a whole and also for each individual. The student gets instanteous feedback to know if their answers are correct or not. The student will know if they need to get extra help on the material being taught and the instructor will know if he didn't get his material across to the group as a whole or perhaps that a few are not grasping the concepts being presented. Another benefit of the CPS units is that all students participate in-class...shy students will often not raise a hand to answer a question, fearing to speak publically or perhaps fear of giving a wrong answer...!?! The CPS units allow everyone to answer anonomously and as such everyone participates willingly
Once the students have been taught the lesson and then tested on the material, then a third element of the blended learning environment is introduced when the students get some practical hands-on experience when driving in the simulator. Once they have successfully completed the in-class portion of the program all students will then go out 1-on-1 in-car with a licenced driving instructor to practice all of the concepts presented in-class on the real road.
Defensive Driving & Safe Driving Techniques are Essential Life Skills. At DriveWise we want to ensure that all students are prepared for the challenging roadways ahead of them and we feel strongly that the best way to achieve this is through a Blended Learning Environment - which combines traditional teaching methods with practicle reinforcement to achieve the highest level of learning retention possible.
Click on this link to view a video about our Safe Start Beginner Driver Education Training Program http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFNCVG7Q1zA
One amazing new piece of technology that has been incorporated into the DriveWise program allowing us to achieve maximum learning retention for all students is called the Classroom Performance System (CPS units). The CPS unit looks like a TV channel changer or clicker, each one is numbered and given to each student on their first day of class. The CPS unit is similar to the devices used on the TV show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire". When Regis Philbin asks the contestant if they want to poll the audience and the audience bends down picks up a device which they all vote into and then there is a graph that appears instatly showing the results of the vote. The CPS units do the same thing. The students are taught a lesson and right away after the lesson is complete the instructor gives them a quiz. The students use their clicker to select which answer to the quiz they feel is correct. The instructor will get instanteous results for the class as a whole and also for each individual. The student gets instanteous feedback to know if their answers are correct or not. The student will know if they need to get extra help on the material being taught and the instructor will know if he didn't get his material across to the group as a whole or perhaps that a few are not grasping the concepts being presented. Another benefit of the CPS units is that all students participate in-class...shy students will often not raise a hand to answer a question, fearing to speak publically or perhaps fear of giving a wrong answer...!?! The CPS units allow everyone to answer anonomously and as such everyone participates willingly
Once the students have been taught the lesson and then tested on the material, then a third element of the blended learning environment is introduced when the students get some practical hands-on experience when driving in the simulator. Once they have successfully completed the in-class portion of the program all students will then go out 1-on-1 in-car with a licenced driving instructor to practice all of the concepts presented in-class on the real road.
Defensive Driving & Safe Driving Techniques are Essential Life Skills. At DriveWise we want to ensure that all students are prepared for the challenging roadways ahead of them and we feel strongly that the best way to achieve this is through a Blended Learning Environment - which combines traditional teaching methods with practicle reinforcement to achieve the highest level of learning retention possible.
Click on this link to view a video about our Safe Start Beginner Driver Education Training Program http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFNCVG7Q1zA
For Every Ending There Is A New Beginning
With a Passion for Road Safety and Road Safety Education our family has been in the business of training new drivers and re-training drivers young and old alike for the past 20 years. Up until May 20th, 2008 our company had been operating as a franchisee with the premium branded driver training school in Canada. Simultaneously, 25 training centre from across Canada, who had alsobeen of that franchise, ventured out from that brand name and branded program, taking their knowledge, experience and expertise to start again with a new, exciting and highly innovative state-of-the-art program. After 20 years having a well known name and good program wasn't good enough for us anymore. Our commitment was to our customer which we viewed from a new perspective, as our own children were now approaching driving age. As parents, we wanted something more for our children and we figured if we wanted more then our customers probably wanted more also.
We have seen the change in the way people learn. Young people require learning to be highly interactive in order to retain the materials being taught to them! That is why we were proud to partner with DriveWise Canada. DriveWise Canada has taken driver training to a whole new high-tech level by incorporating state-of-the-art virtual reality simulation training into the classroom component of the program.
Simulation Training has been used as an effective training tool in the aerospace industry for years. Pilots train on flight simulators long before they fly an actual aircraft. Simulation Training for the wheeled transportation industry seemed like a logical next step. The key to Simulation Training lies with having an expert in the field and that is why this new program is destined to succeed. Lesley de Repentigny and her partner/husband Martin de Repentigny are experts in training development and deployment both having come from a Military background. They understand how simulation works and how it can and should be incorporated into a training plan. They have put together programs for many Municipal Fire, Police and EMS Services across Canada, as well as creating programs for the Canadian Forces. DriveWise has recently been awarded a spot in a research study being done by Transport Canada to look at the effect sleep or lack of sleep has on Truck Drivers. DriveWise Canada is a force to be reckoned with in the Driver Training Industry, teaming training experts with a large group of training centres who are experts in the their markets for deploying a good training program. DriveWise is a Canadian success story...watch how it unfolds...!!!
Click on the link to watch a brief video about DriveWise Canada http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDzptF0ImHo
We have seen the change in the way people learn. Young people require learning to be highly interactive in order to retain the materials being taught to them! That is why we were proud to partner with DriveWise Canada. DriveWise Canada has taken driver training to a whole new high-tech level by incorporating state-of-the-art virtual reality simulation training into the classroom component of the program.
Simulation Training has been used as an effective training tool in the aerospace industry for years. Pilots train on flight simulators long before they fly an actual aircraft. Simulation Training for the wheeled transportation industry seemed like a logical next step. The key to Simulation Training lies with having an expert in the field and that is why this new program is destined to succeed. Lesley de Repentigny and her partner/husband Martin de Repentigny are experts in training development and deployment both having come from a Military background. They understand how simulation works and how it can and should be incorporated into a training plan. They have put together programs for many Municipal Fire, Police and EMS Services across Canada, as well as creating programs for the Canadian Forces. DriveWise has recently been awarded a spot in a research study being done by Transport Canada to look at the effect sleep or lack of sleep has on Truck Drivers. DriveWise Canada is a force to be reckoned with in the Driver Training Industry, teaming training experts with a large group of training centres who are experts in the their markets for deploying a good training program. DriveWise is a Canadian success story...watch how it unfolds...!!!
Click on the link to watch a brief video about DriveWise Canada http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDzptF0ImHo
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