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OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, May 22, 2009 · 6 OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: NEIL OLIVER Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of Media Group Ltd. DAVID HARVEY General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution SARAH MCSWEENEY Circ. Manager Safety first The results of recent police road safety blitzes in Halton reveal some disturbing statistics about the number of unsafe trucks and passenger vehicles travelling our roads. In the weeks leading up to and including Canada Road Safety Week (May 12-18), Halton police have been involved in a variety of initiatives intended to remind all motorists that safe roads don't come by accident. Earlier this month, Halton police participated in an enforcement blitz to ensure safety compliance for heavy trucks in Milton and Halton Hills. Every one of the vehicles stopped -- under the suspicion they might be unsafe -- was found to have safety concerns and was immediately taken off the road. The most common defects discovered were brake and weight-related; a total of 39 charges were laid. At the same time, results of an earlier police seat-belt campaign came in, revealing that 675 tickets were issued to Halton motorists for failing to buckle up. Even more alarming was the especially low safety rating found during a recent child car seat clinic in Milton. Of 105 car seats inspected, 86 failed a six-point safety check. Police themselves use words like "appalling" when describing the number of infractions they have recently found. Even more appalling is that these road safety blitzes -- held over a handful of days -- provide only a momentary glimpse into how many unfit vehicles are on our roads. In Halton in 2008, there were 15 deaths and more than 1,200 serious injuries related to traffic accidents. When you factor in such unsafe practices as being an inattentive driver, speeding, driving while impaired, not wearing seatbelts and operating a motor vehicle that's unfit for the road, the potential for tragedy on our roads is great. A primary component of Road Safety Week is monitoring driver behaviour for sober and alert driving, seatbelt use and refraining from all aspects of aggressive driving. To that end, drivers are being encouraged to call 911 if they suspect another motorist is driving dangerously or while impaired. Also, Project ERASE (Eliminate Racing Activity on Streets Everywhere) began in April and runs through September. It targets aggressive, speeding and impaired drivers. What is abundantly clear is that safety blitzes alone can't prevent all the Halton accidents that injured or killed more than 1,200 people last year. The starting point to improving road safety in Halton lies in each face that's reflected in every rearview mirror of all the vehicles that pass through the region. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Letter to the editor Power plant opponents need MPP to speak up I am shocked to read about how our representative for the province is unable to speak on our behalf because of his role with the Minister of the Environment. Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn needs to remember that the people that elected him are being unfairly treated by not having a voice. Where is the integrity commissioner on that issue? By not being able to help, advocate or communicate a position on this issue, is he in violation of his oath of office that was given to him by the voters of this community? If this is an issue for Flynn, then he should step down in his position with the Ministry and do what is right and that is, advocating for his voters. Time is running out and the fact that the Province would tie our MPP's hands on this issue is a complete joke. The so-called integrity ministry should examine the Premier's role in this issue and many others because there seems to be a lack of integrity coming from the premier himself on this very issue. PAUL W. MEYER Letters to the editor The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Sheep need sheepdogs for protection Re: Police Day was frightening, Oakville Beaver, May 13 I am reminded of a speech given by William J. Bennett to the United States Naval Academy on Sheep, Wolves & Sheepdogs. He stated that most of the population are sheep, not necessarily a bad thing (by sheep he means most people are kind, decent people not capable of hurting each other except by accident or extreme provocation). A small percentage of the population are wolves, who are predators that feed on the sheep without mercy and are capable of evil deeds. Then there are the population which are police officers, soldiers who see it as Thanks for the help To the people that helped me on Friday morning, May 15, by Price Choppers at Third Line and Pine Glen, I would like to thank them for being so kind. Especially the young couple that were the first ones there, as well as the lady that drove me home to the seniors building in Bronte. It is nice to know that there are nice people out there that care. Thanks also to the policeman that came and the ambulance drivers. BEVERLY VALLIS See Sheep page 7 Pud BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com