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I PAGE 4 THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, DECEMBER 3,2003 www.durhamrcgion.com Tim Whittaker Publisher Joanne Burghardt Editor-in-Chief Tony Doyle Managing Editor Fred Eismont Director of Advertising Eddie Kolodziejcak Classiiied Advertising Manager Kirk Bailey Distribution Manager Lillian Hook Oitice Manager Janice O'Neil Cheryl Haines Composing Managers Œfjc Cmtabtmt Statesman Phone 905-579-4400 Classifieds 905-576-9335 Distribution 905-579-4407 General Fax 905-579-2238 Newsroom Fax 905-579-1809 E-Mail newsroom@durhamregion.com 865 Farewell St., Oshawa ON L1H 7L5 Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 Clarington's Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1854 H DECEMBER 3,2003 Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. infodurham. egk .com EDITORIAL e-mail letters to newsroom®(lurlianiregion.coni Shame comes in posting names of accused Police have every right to tell the world of those who are charged with impaired driving The Durham Regional Police have added another weapon in the light against drunk driving - names. This year the force will be publishing the names of people accused of driving drunk during the month-long Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) campaign. Names of the accused will be reported reported in releases available on the Durham police Web site. Good for Durham officers for exploring every possible tool when it comes to winning this ongoing fight to reduce this dangerous crime. As it is, the current system in place continues to come up short in deterring deterring people who have been drinking, from climbing behind the wheel. While police saw a significant drop in the number of drinking and driving charges laid last holiday season, officers are doubtful the decrease decrease was due to fewer impaired drivers being on the road. Indeed, the force's 12-officer RIDE team was too busy charging 30 motorists for marijuana possession, leading to a decline in the number of vehicles vehicles that were slopped at spot checks. In all, regional police inspected inspected 27,066 vehicles and charged 56 people with driving over the legal alcohol limit of 80 mgs per 100 mis of blood. In 2001, 30,497 vehicles vehicles were stopped and 70 people were charged. The drug charges require more paperwork and, as such, the RIDE program was unable to stop as many vehicles as desired. Regardless, it still took impaired drivers off Durham roads. It just doesn't make sense to take a chance by driving drunk. The penalties, including an automatic one-year suspension, would seem to be enough of a deterrent and makes us wonder why anyone would risk it. Repeat offenders, and there are always a few silly ones out there, face an automatic three-year licence suspension for a second offence and possible jail time. And now, there will be the humiliation of having having to install an in-car breathalyser, which must be blown into every time the convicted drunk driver starts his or her vehicle. That mandatory device will be installed once the suspension is over and will be in place for at least a year. Think of all the times a convicted drunk driver will have to blow into the device. Talk about being reminded again and again of your transgression. In the past, police forces have considered year-long RIDE programs programs and we're all for that idea. It will make every single driver think twice before getting behind the wheel. Whether it be expanding RIDE to a year-round operation or naming naming names, clearly there's work to be done and police must use all the tools at their disposal to tackle this deadly problem. OPINION e-mail letters to ncwsroom@durhamregion.com Set an example for kids when it comes to ATV riding safety Police, Region initiative a step in the right direction It seems like a wasted effort, effort, trying to regulate illegal activities. After all, if they are already bending the law, why would ATV users listen to safety safety messages? Bui, in the end, the argument should always be we can't give up that easily. If we can't stop them from driving all-terrain- vehicles where they shouldn't, then let's at least get them to ride safely. And anyway, it applies to those who ride in legal areas loo. Durham police, the Region's health and works departments, the Province, various municipalities municipalities and ATV manufacturers are behind the safety initiative. If just a few people pay attention, attention, some serious accidents could be avoided and lives saved, as one police official says. And here's where it makes the most sense: officers and safety-conscious ATVcrs are trying to target kids. It's the start of what could amount to a revolution. Just take bike helmets helmets for example. Mow often do you see children wearing helmets when they ride bikes now? It's harder to find a youngster youngster without a helmet today. So safety education efforts like this do work. Unfortunately, il will be a lot 1»*-* f David Stell tougher to get the message out to parents teaching kids to use ATVs. The difference between a bicycle and an ATV is as great as a kite compared to a plane. Put an engine in something and the danger increases tenfold. But to regular users of ATVs, the necessary respect for the machine can often be disregarded. disregarded. Sure, they wear the proper equipment most often, but how they use the machine is what is suspect. Riding up near-vertical hills, risking a rollover, jumping jumping over objects and riding at dangerous speeds: these are the behaviours that need to be changed. 'Monkey see, monkey do' goes the old adage. So when kids watch dad do a stunt, they are likely to imitate it and often with the lack of skill necessary to avoid an accident. So parents, if you include your kids in the weekend trip to Test Hill or Ganaraska Forest, take note: what you teach them now will stick with them forever. forever. Teach responsible safe riding riding and avoid disaster. Test Hill and other riding hot spots have seen enough serious and fatal accidents in recent years. We don't need any more. LETTER TO THE EDITOR e-mail letters to ncwsroom@(lurli iimreyion.com Health-care system must be cleared up To the editor: In response to the Ontario Liberals promise to eliminate the 'two tier' element of our health-care system and the example example of rich athletes having preferential access to expensive treatments (MRIs), a Toronto sports team representative commented commented they don't jump the queue; they just use the facilities facilities when they are closed to the general public. Dull! Talk about arrogant. They don't butt in line, they just make a new (pay for) line of their own. There are too many people who are frustrated at the wait times for these services and would make the time to be there any time of the day or night if it were available. How are we supposed to correct this situation situation when so many examples like this are accepted by a system system that is supposedly touting universal health care? Either fix it or admit it. If it's a universal system then show us how it works. If we have a pay- as-you-go system then make it available and legal and take your lumps from the electorate. Mike Thompson Courtice Severance pay a turnoff for voters To the editor: Re: 'Taxpayers await word on payouts,' Nov. 21. Wonder why the majority of people can't be bothered voting anymore? Could it be the integrity, integrity, or lack thereof, of our political figures? A number of politicians are eligible for severance pay, either either because they were elected to positions in the provincial parliament or they lost their seats in' the most recent elections. elections. One that stood out was Wayne Arthurs, former mayor of Pickering, who was elected to a provincial seat, but is still eligible to receive $105,000 for time spent serving Pickering. Give me a break! He wasn't fired from his job. He voluntarily voluntarily decided to seek a provincial seat and, having been elected, is now set to receive even higher monetary rewards, not to mention mention even more power. Why do the taxpayers owe him an additional $105,000 for something he wanted to do of his own accord? No wonder the paying public have so little respect respect for these individuals! Bill Gotro Whitby True story of ALS very painful To the editor: Re: 'Living with ALS,' Nov. 19. My dad passed away of ALS four years ago on Nov. 14 so I know first-hand the havoc it can play on the human body. But I also feel you haven't really spelled out the reality of ALS. This is ALS: Over almost two years we slowly watched my father lose control over his body and eventually the following following happened to him. He could not eat without a feeding tube, but would be able to smell the cooking of our supper supper (which would make him sick or hungry). He could not talk without the help of a computer. computer. He could not swallow his own saliva without a suction device device (every few minutes making his mouth and. throat raw). He would uncontrollably drool from the corner of his mouth and had to struggle to keep it closed as it embarrassed him. He could not cry or he would start to choke. So all our 'You're gonna go' talks were limited. He could not walk and had to be lifted into a wheelchair wheelchair to get to the washroom or his chair. He could not properly go to the washroom, as all those muscles weakened too, leading to him eventually needing a catheter. He could not hold his own head up in a chair for very long without pain and discomfort discomfort - he described it as feeling like trying to hold up a bowling ball. He could not even scratch his own nose. He could not breathe properly, properly, and had the odd panic attack when it got really bad. Imagine not knowing if your lung muscles muscles are going to work properly. He said it fell like someone was sitting on bis chest all the time. He could not even roll over in bed. Wherever he was placed, he was there for the night, unless he buzzed in my mom or she would hear him choking. He lived in constant pain and had to have a morphine drip to try to control it. It's like being buried alive because you still have all your senses and are fully aware of what is happening to you. That was our experience of ALS. Please give. Lesley Long Oshawa CLICK AND SA^ Today's question: Will new safety initiatives from police and government help ATV users be more careful or will it be ignored? □ Help safety □ Will help some □ Will be ignored Cast your vote online at infodurham'egioj^.com Last week's question: Should the regional chairman's chairman's position be elected by voters or stay as it is, voted on by regional councillors? □ Public voting 82.8 per cent □ Regional councillors 17.2 per cent Votes cast: 151 HAVE YOUR SAY Question Will the new hydro rates and incentives being offered for people who conserve energy change how you use electricity? Jeff Liston 'No, it's not a big issue for us at home as we don't use a lot as it is.' Tom Colliss 'Yes it will, we Will try to conserve as much as we can right across the board.' Ed Hooper 'For sure, we'll cut back as much as we can, but our Christmas lights will still go up.' Duncan Tillson 'No, if we need it we use it. We've been conserving as best we can all along.' TRUE GRIT AND WE (AMm CWEÜBE: mmm ND5MDIE6 mm \m - 'ixdik'tk ,..AND m m MEDIA / NK.OWW «NCT.mDAlLN C40WA - IS KW WE DON'T m,OR a&we-me fWEDWEVE CtoiED AOIIW at imiw? „WBME,DID nw san mum?. 1 / By Tim Dolighan ». AcmiLN NEW MIND, ' I* I'VE (W«EDW own queshon CQ O O c\j Vl c <3 c: a -t: e a *o Letters to the Editor To submit a letter, please include your name, address and daytime telephone number. Letters should he under 200 mords. The editor reserves reserves the right to edit copy length and clarity. Lax: 005-570-1000, it- mail: newsroom@durhamregion.eom Cite iCniiflbiiiii Silntrsmmi is ono of the Molroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing group of newspapers. 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