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Sunday, May 16, 1999 Oakville Beaver Weekend 19 FOCUS ON TRANSPORTATION N e w p ro g ram s to c o m b a t u n sa fe d riv e rs (Continued from page 17) The premise is that a hero is any person who saves a life (even their own) by pre­ vention and wise decision making. HEROES aims to inform teens to "wear the gear," "drive sober," "buckle up," "look first" and "get trained." On June 5, Cooperators Insurance Company and Oakville Road Safety Coalition will also present a free Child Safety Seat Clinic at Fire Station #7 in Iroquois Ridge. This clinic will assist parents in the proper installation of then- child's car seat. The Cooperators Insurance Company have trained twen­ ty-five employees as inspectors. Shockingly, at the first clinic Eix was involved in, she reports that 90% of the car seats were not installed correctly. The week of the Road Safety Challenge will also mark the launch of the "Road Watch" program. This new program was developed to enable any ordinary citizen to report unsafe drivers by filing a citizen report form developed specifically for the project. Road Watch signs are also planned for the near future. On top of these three events, the Oakville Road Safety Coalition will be setting up seat belt checks at various locations. "People think buckling a seat belt is a habit for everyone by now," says Eix, "but at a check point at Eighth Line last fall, only 89 per cent of all drivers checked were buckled up." As part of the Challenge, Eix hopes to run a RIDE program in Oakville again. Eix remembers a time when there was a RIDE check point on Dorval Drive two years ago. 'We started up at 5:00 p.m.," she says, "and by 5:30 we'd already pulled three impaired drivers off the road." Oakville has a mobile radar message unit and display board that is used in association with Communities On Phone Patrol (COPP). The radar is set up in neighbourhoods where the resi­ dents complain of speeding. Why do people continue to drive so hazardously in Oakville? According to Eix it's apathy and a lack of real con­ cern. "Many people feel like nothing is going to happen as a result of their inap­ propriate action." To help combat this attitude, one pro­ gram she hopes to bring to Oakville is called 'Think of Me". This program started as an educational tool for the Challenge in Thunder Bay. Grade three students were asked to draw pictures of themselves in traffic situations, such as crossing a street, playing by a road, or something similar. With every traffic violation that was issued that week, one of these pictures was given to the driver. Along with the picture was the slogan, "Think of Me". This year, the Oakville Road Safety Coalition is made up of Eix, her co-chair Tim Danter, centre director of Young Drivers Oakville, the Oakville Community Consultation Committees, COPP, and the Teen Injury Prevention Committee, all interested in raising awareness for road safety in order to make Oakville's roads safer. The MTO's slogan is "Road Safety--It starts with you." "I really believe that," says Eix. Her OPP to target aggressive drivers In 1998, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigated 63,138 collisions-- 523 people died, while another 22,768 were injured. The numbers tell the story--aggressive driving has a devastating effect on the fives of families in Ontario. Beginning May 14, until May 28, the OPP and other police services across the province will join efforts by targeting those who demonstrate aggressive driving behaviour. Many drivers disobey the rules of the road and do not use common sense. They put themselves, their passengers and other motorists at risk. In Ontario, 600 motor vehicle collisions occur every day. As a result of these collisions, three people will die--one every nine hours. Aggressive driving is everyone's problem. Be a part of the solution. enthusiasm and support of the many projects she's involved in show that she takes it seriously. For more information about the Ontario Road Safety Challenge or any o f these programs, contact Patti Eix at 844-1109. DOES YOUR CAR WAX GIVE YOU BETTER PROTECTION THAN YOUR CUT-RATE CAR INSURANCE? D o n 't tru st ju st a n y o n e to in su re y o u r car, see o n e o f us: Wayne McGill John Bauman Hal Mayer 2345 \C^ecro(t Rd. #21 Oakville 847-5671 627 Lyons Lane #308 Oakville 842-2225 2861 Sherwood Heights D r Oakville 829-5200 Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there * S T A T I FARM I N S U R A N C E_______ Stale Farm Mutual Automobile Insurant! Company • Canadian Hood Office: Scarborough. Ontario If You Care About Where You Live... 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