A4 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday August 11,1999 A message from the Halton Council on Smoking and Health. For more information, please call the Halton Regional Health Department at (905) 693-4242 ext. 7525. TTY (905) 827-9833. A Rubik Health Project. Photo u u d w ith permission from North le y end District Health Unit OPP supporting higher speed lim its on GTA highways Drivers may be ready for higher speed limits on major highways in the Greater Toronto Area after a dramatic decrease in excessive speeding in the past three months, police say. "I'm not talking carte blanche going 120 kilo metres an hour; but if the trend continues, there may be justification in setting variable speed lim its for variable conditions, depending on the time of day, the traffic flow, the road conditions and the stretch of highway," said Ontario Provincial Police Superintendent Bill Currie, regional com mander for Greater Toronto. "We could also use electronic signs that tell motorists they can travel 120 km/h for the next 30 kilometres. Or stay at 100 km/h or less if the weather is bad or the traffic flow makes it unsafe for drivers to go any faster." The reason for the dramatic decrease, Currie says, is the creation of so-called "calming zones" - sections on 400 series highways entering Greater Toronto where there has been an increased police radar surveillance since mid-May during daytime hours. "Before we started our program, about 65% of the motorists clocked in the zones were doing over 120 km/h, but three months later about 60% are traveling under that speed," Currie said. 'That's almost a complete reversal. "I'm absolutely stunned by these results. I was hoping the zones would have an impact. I was hoping motorists would get the message, but to have 60% clocked under 120 km/h in such a short time is incredible." Police didn't announce the seven calming zones until late June, after they saw they were having an effect on drivers. The zones, which extend several kilometres, are located in Cambridge at Highway 401 and Highway 6; Milton at Highway 401 and James Snow Parkway; Toronto at Highway 401 and Meadowvale Rd.; Whitby at Highway 401 and Holt Rd.; St. Catharines at the Queen Elizabeth Way and 7th St.; Burlington at the QEW and Glover Rd.; and Aurora at Langstaff Rd. At least four police cruisers are parked at each of the locations, with officers using laser radar Monday to Friday immediately after the morning rush hour and before the evening rush hour. Dozens of other officers are working between the zones and on weekends. Despite the decrease in speed, police have laid 7,262 speeding charges since April, including 188 motorists who were caught traveling over 150 km/h. At least two were clocked at more than 200 km/h. More than half of the charges - 4,840 - were for speeds between 131 km/h and 150 km/h. But the numbers of those caught in this range have been decreasing. Prior to the crackdown, 22% of cars clocked in the zones were hitting speeds of 131 km/h and higher, but by the end of last month that figure had dropped to 8.7%. Currie had thought it would take police about two years to get drivers to stop going at excessive speeds. The idea was that once drivers got used to slowing down, then police, with the support of transportation ministry officials, could recom mend to the province that speed limits be increased on certain sections of 400 series high ways. "In my view, motorists are slowing down out of fear and respect for the law," Currie said. "In the past, I have been reluctant to even consider higher speed limits because I saw no indication motorists were obeying 110 or 120 km/h. But if this trend continues, I think it's worthy of adjust ments where appropriate, maybe within six months to a year." Many U.S. states have increased the speeds on interstate highways - the equivalent of Ontario's 400 series highways - to 65 miles per hour from 55. Ontario's 100 km/h speed limit translates to about 62 miles per hour. At 120 km/h, motorists would be going about 74.5 m.p.h. Highways such as the 401 and 400 had posted speed limits of 70 miles per hour until the energy crisis hit in the mid- to late 1970s. H alton Police hosting anti-racism workshop A Youth Anti-Racism Leadership Training workshop will be held on Thursday, Aug. 26th, at the Halton Regional Police headquar ters, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This training is aimed at acquiring the tools on how to combat racism and teach peer groups; reduce counterproductive stereotyp ing and prejudices towards people of other races, cultures and/or religions; and to enhance participants' leadership skills within a cross-cultural context. The workshop is being offered by the Halton Multicultural Council. For information, or to register, call the Halton Multicultural Council at 842-2486. 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