The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, April 5, 2012 · 8 The aftermath of impaired driving is not pretty ing impaired. Halton police are trying to combat this, not only through enforcement, but also by going into area schools and showing Halton's students the consequences of drinking and driving. One of the latest ways they have done this is through a poster campaign, which involved taking photos from real fatal impaired driving accident scenes in Halton and bringing them into the schools with permission from the victims' families. The idea is that the photo is not something obscure that came off some Internet site, but something that actually shows students what happened to someone in their community, perhaps even their high school, when he/she chose to drink and drive. Percy said recent surveys seem to indicate Halton's secondary school students are getting the message about drinking and driving. As a result, police are refocusing their efforts to also show young drivers the dangers of driving while high on narcotics. "A lot people think, `When I use Continued from page 1 drugs I'm more mellow, I'm more relaxed. I'm in a better place to respond. I'm a calmer driver,'" said Percy. "That's not the case. When alcohol is combined with drug use, there's an even higher likelihood of a fatal or serious injury collision." While Halton police visit high schools to discuss impaired driving, Percy said, young drivers are not the only impaired driving offenders. Percy said a wide spectrum of people make the decision to drink and drive, with Halton police having arrested young people, but also men and women in their 60s. Police are combating this problem with increased enforcement such as RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) programs taking place throughout the year and not just during the winter holiday season. Percy said getting impaired drivers off the road is important as alcohol has contributed to a significant number of Halton's fatal traffic collisions. Distracted driving has also been described as a dangerous driving practice that is rampant in Halton. Percy said Halton police have not only caught people driving while on OAKVILLE BEAVER FILE PHOTO/ @halton_photog prevention: Halton Regional Police Service Deputy Chief Bob Percy at the launch of the 2011 Safe Prom and RIDE 101 launches at Burlington's Robert Bateman High School. cell phones or texting, but even some people who were driving while working on their laptops. "We've done a number of blitzes and we've had tremendous success -- unfortunately. It shows there is a need for ongoing enforcement with regard to distracted drivers. I see it daily myself. I've given out a number of offence notices myself for people driving distracted. The message is out there, but people, for whatever reason, choose not to adhere to it," said Percy. "When you are following someone who's texting, initially the symptoms of what you are observing mimic an impaired driver. So although you may have all your faculties about you and be awake and alert, when your head is down and you are driving looking at a cell phone, you are just as dangerous, if not more so, than an impaired driver because you are all over the road and you are not paying attention." Percy said there was a fatal crash in Oakville in 2010 where the police investigation revealed that not only were speed and alcohol contributing factors to the accident, but the victim See Police page 9 Cedar Ridge Camp Traditional Residential Summer Camp for Canadian and International Children Coeducational 7-15 years old 2-week, 3-week and 1-month sessions Located near Bancroft, Ontario The Oakville Golf Club 1154 Sixth Line Activities include: Swimming Climbing Canoe Tripping Sports Horseback Riding Canoeing Mountain Biking Arts & Crafts Games Cedar Ridge offers: Year-round outdoor education & retreat facilities Leadership programs English immersion The Oakville Golf Club invites you to a Thursday April 12, 2012 6:00pm - 9:00pm OPEN HOUSE NEW MEMBER Come and visit Oakville's hidden gem on the bank of Sixteen Mile Creek. Enjoy complimentary wine tastings, sample the creations of our excellent chef, and learn about the value of membership. To register call Sharon Fraser 905-845-8321 ext. 32 For more information, please call 1-877-334-6675 or 613-332-6675 e-mail: info@cedarridgecamp.ca web: www.cedarridgecamp.ca "More Than Golf"