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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, January 8, 2016 | 6 One impaired driver is one too many Don't drink and drive. It's a simple message that just isn't getting across. This, according to statistics released by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Halton Regional Police Service following the completion of their respective holiday RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaigns. Locally, more than 15,000 vehicles were checked at RIDE spot checks across the region last month. Halton's nest made 31 impaired driving arrests and issued 46 three-day licence suspensions. The latter occurs when a driver blows a `warn' on an alcohol screening device, which indicates that his or her blood alcohol content is between 0.05 and 0.08. Arrests are down While the number of impaired driving arrests is down 45 per cent from the previous year -- 31 arrests compared to 56 people arrested in December 2014 RIDE checks -- the number of motorists driving dangerously close to the legal limit is on the rise. Suspensions are up The total of three-day suspensions issued last month has more than doubled compared to December 2014 statistics issued by Halton police. Police handed out 46 three-day suspensions -- a 65 per cent increase from the 28 issued in 2014. OPP numbers aren't much better Provincially, the numbers aren't much better. According to the OPP's 2015 Festive RIDE program results, 573 drivers were charged with impaired driving-related offences and more than 350 motorists received a roadside warning, which resulted in the temporary suspension of their driver's licence. Despite the reduced number of arrests, police say one impaired driver on local streets is too many and noted police would continue to educate the public about the dangers and consequences of impaired driving and would also be conducting RIDE spot checks to catch those motorists who make the wrong decision. Of cers offered thanks to motorists who called 911 to report suspicious impaired driving activity during this holiday season. We know the festive season is a time for celebration. We know family and friends gather. And we know that many enjoy a drink or two, while others have too many. Unfortunately, some show a complete disregard for safety -- human life and local community safety -- by getting behind the wheel under the in uence of drugs and alcohol. This despite the known dangers and legal penalties associated with such a perilous act. It's inconceivable that motorists -- young and old -- continue to conduct themselves in such a careless way. What is it going to take to get this important message across? Editorial C A L E N D A R P A Y S "Connected to your Community" O F F 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 54 | Number 2 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER KELLY MONTAGUE DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production SANDY PARE MARK DILLS The Oakville Professional Fire ghters Association (OPFFA) presented the $53,575 raised by the 2015 re ghter calendar to Ian Anderson House hospice, the Oakville Hospital Foundation and Dog Guides. On hand for the presentation were (back, from left), Dog Guide foster parent Nicky Lawson; Mary Liedtke, Oakville Fire Captain; re ghter Brendon Boyd; Liam Cuttle, 5; Mike Lucas; re ghters Jeff Yee and Marcel Perreault; Heidi Harrigan, Ian Anderson House volunteer and event co-ordinator; Halton Healthcare Community Fundraising Of cer Michelle Kerby, and, in front, Dog Guide foster parents Joyce van Voorst and Samantha Huibers; Courtney Starr, Dog Guide Trainer; and volunteer Helena Thompson. | photo by Nikki Wesley ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Letters to the Editor Seniors' centres should be open for holidays Over the holidays, my wife and I had occasion to go past the seniors' centre in Bronte. We were astonished to nd that it was closed throughout the Christmas season. Not to be outdone, Burlington also shut down its seniors' centre for the entire holiday period. There is something very wrong with this picture: providing seniors with a place to go,and companionship, is the very reason these facilities exist. Do we really want our older citizens to be alone during the holidays? I realize tax money is scarce, but I believe there are enough volunteers available (count us in) to lend a helping hand and keep the lights on for a few extra days around Christmas time. I hope our city fathers are listening so that the same unfortunate results do not happen in 2016. Jay Miller, Oakville Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Thanks for the kind gesture at Swiss Chalet Thank you to the gentleman who put $100 bill on our table at Swiss Chalet in Oakville. You also surprised other restaurant patrons with a monetary gift toward their meal. Your act of kindness and generosity caught my mother and I by surprise and we did not thank you as the shock of such a Christmas gift left us speechless and you disappeared before we could properly thank you for your gift. So please accept our belated heartfelt thanks and we will pay it forward. Merry Christmas. Elaine and Florence Tschirhart, Oakville 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. 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, 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 or via email to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter.