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Keep your hands on the wheel, eyes on the road by Dominik Kurek Oakville Beaver Staff 5 | Friday, April 12, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Those charged with safety and services of people and roads in Halton are taking a stand against distracted driving -- and ask drivers to do the same. Wednesday, Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr and Halton Regional Police Service Chief Stephen Tanner signed a pledge against distracted driving, as part of the Region's and police department's Drive SAFE (Safety Awareness for Everyone) program. Ontario driving laws prohibit drivers from talking, texting, typing, dialing or e-mailing using cellphones or other hand-held communication or entertainment devices. Drivers are also prohibited from viewing laptops, DVD players or display screens that are unrelated to driving. Yet, drivers continue to do this, which can lead to catastrophic results. According to Allstate Canada, distracted driving is involved in 80 per cent of collisions. "You're 23 times more likely to be in an accident if you're texting while driving," said Tanner, referring to a CAA report. "It only takes a second. You think about the distance you're travelling at a high speed in a car and you look down for one or two seconds to text a word and you're running into the back of another car or through a red light. It's not only your own safety; it's the safety of everyone Halton Regional Police Chief Stephen Tanner and Halton Region Chair Gary Carr sign pledges Wednesday against distracted driving, which studies have shown, can be as dangerous as impaired driving. Police will be running a enforcement blitz next week, April 15-19. photo by Graham Paine ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) else on the streets or your friends, relatives or children who get killed by someone else." Carr said only a few months ago, he was making a similar pledge, asking people not to drink and drive. This time, he is pledging against what he called another epidemic on the roads. According to a University of Utah study, using a cellphone while driving, whether handheld or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having blood-alcohol concentrations at the legal limit of .08 per cent. "Most drivers know the dangers of impaired driving. We need to work together so people understand that driving distracted is just as dangerous as drinking and driving," Carr said. He said a recent study shows 75 per cent of teens regularly text while driving, and 77 per cent of teens have said they have seen their parents text and drive. The campaign features an enforcement and education component. The former will kick off the week of April 15. In 2012, Halton police have issued nearly 3,600 distracted driving-related tickets. One officer handed out more than 1,000 such tickets. Tanner said the co-operative effort goes beyond Halton, as police services across the province are stepping up enforcement of distracted driving, including the OPP launching a province-wide campaign. Tanner said communicating by text message is something everyone does and today's teens start from the moment they get their first cellphone and it's something they are comfortable with. However, he warns people against doing so while driving. "Not wearing seatbelts takes lives, distracted driving takes lives and impaired driving takes lives and we need to do everything we can, from the enforcement and education perspective, to step up and help protect our citizens." A distracted driving fine in Ontario is $155. For more information on the campaign, visit www.halton.ca/drivesafe. OPEN HOUSE Saturday April 20, 2013 10am ­ 2pm · Preschool, Elementary and Middle School · Individualized and enriched programming · Fully equipped Montessori environments · Parent community involvement · Beautiful historic building · Architecturally innovative expansion Contact us for more information Don't Just Live Life Hear Life! COME AND EXPERIENCETHE DIFFERENCE 10 Reasons To Visit Us Today Highly experienced clinicians, friendly staff and exceptional service Complete hearing tests for adults and children Try Before You Buy your new hearing aids in our Sound Escape Room The latest hearing aids from leading manufacturers Unhappy with your existing hearing aids? We will re-program them FREE of charge Extended working hours ­ open Saturdays Hearing aid batteries and hearing aid battery recycle centre Large selection of assistive listening devices to make your life easy Custom ear plugs for noise protection, musicians & swimming plugs Registered vendor with ADP, WSIB & VAC and all private health insurance providers 905.337.8283 info@clanmore.ca www.clanmore.ca CCMA ACCREDITED Member of Oakville Independent Schools 2 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU! CALL TODAY TO BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT! BRONTE VILLAGE APPLEBY VILLAGE 100 Bronte Road,Unit 6 Oakville ON 5061 New Street, Unit 203 Burlington ON (2nd Floor Rexall Building) 905.825.1003 905.333.5061