ACHO DENE KOE/FORT LIARD - Learning rules of the road for things like dual lane turns and roundabouts in a community that doesn't even have a set of stoplights requires a bit of ingenuity.

Sixteen adults recently spent two weeks practising driving skills within the confines of the Aurora College Community Learning Centre in Fort Liard. From Jan. 25 to Feb. 5 Christine Abela, the community adult educator, taught participants the requirements to write the Class 7 learner's licence test.

Arthur Duntra, left, and Melvin Lomen practise dual lane turns during the Class 7 learner's licence training course at the Fort Liard Aurora College Community Learning Centre. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

"It's definitely a challenge," Abela said about teaching driving skills needed for a bigger centre while living in Fort Liard.

"Someone could technically get their licence and never go through a stoplight," she said.

To help the participants grasp driving laws and road signs that apply to road configurations the hamlet doesn't have Abela pulled out a roll of masking tape. She started by marking out a four way stop with tape on the floor of the classroom.

Students took turns pretending to drive up to the intersection where Abela would hold up a piece of paper with a stoplight drawn on. The driver then had to continue or stop as the light permitted.

To cover dual lane turns, Abela laid down more tape to create multiple lanes leading up to the four-way stop. Even more tape went into creating a complete roundabout. Although there are few outside the country's major cities, there is a roundabout in Dawson Creek in northern B.C., so drivers need to know how they work, she said.

The tape roads earned approval from the course participants.

"It's better than looking at it in the book," said Cecilia Burke on Jan. 28.

Burke decided to take the course because her goal for 2010 is to start the process of getting her licence.

"My son said he's proud of me," Burke said.

In addition to the course Burke, who'd like to be able to drive so she can visit her mom more often in Fort Nelson, has been studying at home at night to improve her chances of passing the test.

"I'm kind of nervous," she said.

Evangelina Fantasque, another participant, said she was nervous for two weeks before the course started.

"It's going pretty good actually," she said.

Fantasque said using the tape roads on the floors is helping her to learn the harder concepts like roundabouts.

"It's really good," she said.

Fantasque is looking forward to getting her full licence so she can drive to Alaska and take a ferry down the West Coast.

There's a demand for drivers' training in Fort Liard, said Abela.

The college started getting calls about the course as soon as it was advertised in November. Fifteen people signed up in the first week alone. To meet the demand Abela will be running another course for the general community starting on Feb. 22 and one targeted to high schools students in May.