PAGE 12, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1985, WHITBY FREE PRESS Durham board faces buckle-up dilema By JAN DODGE Free Press Staff To buckle up or not is a safety question that has no relevance to Durham school buses because with a few ex- ceptions they do not -have seatbelts. According to Jack Up- ton, manager of tran- sportation for the Durham Board of Education, the board owns seven buses and has 217 under contract with eight different operators in the region. None of these have seatbelts except for a few vans which have seatbelts as required by some special education students. He said that all buses now meet the Ministry of Education safety guidelines established in 1980. Upton said he knew of no set period of time for keeping a contracted bus in service, but rather it was kept so long as it was mechanically fit. Buses owned by the board were kept for eight years he said. Jerry O'Neill, con- troller of transportation for the Durham Region Roman Catholic Separate School Board, said all of their 63 large buses and il vans are contracted out. Of those there is just one van which is equipped for handicapped students that has seatbelts. Since all the buses are contracted out, O'Neill said he does not keep track of whether they have other safety features or not. In telephone inter- views with Whitby trustee, Ian Brown and John Buchanan, (the only incumbents on either board who are standing for election) the Free Press asked their views on seatbelts for school buses. Brown said, "The jury is still out on that. Ex- perts come down on both sides of the question." He said he would sup- port, for Durham, a pilot study in which seatbelts would be in- stalled on a new bus and then studied for one year. He said that drivers are concerned about who is responsible for seeing that the children are belted in, and about some children using the buckles as weapons. Brown pointed out that due to regulations from within the last five years new buses rnust now have higher backs and more padding. The bracing of seats has been improved, and windows can be used as escape mechanisms. Also he said that the rooves have been strengthened to support a weight of one and a half times that of the bus, should it roll. The addition of mechanical stop arms which help to prevent motorists from passing while the bus is stopped is another recent safety feature. Brown said the idea of a pilot project for trying seatbelts first came up two years ago. The motion passed pending receipt of information by the staff. Staff collec- ted information on the idea which the board heard, but further direc- tion was not considered necessary at the time he said. Brown said the question would be coming up again. Buchanan said in general he thought seatbelts on buses were a good idea, but he still had some doubts about children not being able to release their belts in an emergency. He said even a young child should be able to release his belt, but Buchanan didn't think such a belt had yet been designed. Referring to ministry safety regulations he said buses now have more safety features than cars. Buchanan said he would like to see more done on the safety aspect of buses. To him buses appeared top heavy, and he feared they might tip easily, but he wanted to see studies done on that. Upton said the public board had one bus in- volved in an accident on Hwy. 12 last year, in which a truck ran into the back of the bus but there were no major in- juries. O'Neill said the separate board had one or two fender benders involving their buses, but there were no in- juries involved. Herrema wants third term as chairman Gary Herrema has confirmed that he will seek a third term as Durham Regional chairman. Herrema has held the post since 1980 when he succeeded Walter Beath, the first chair- man of the region. Prior to assuming the $45,000 a year job, Herrema was Mayor of Uxbridge and chairman of regional council's works committee. "There are too many issues to deal with yet," Herrema told the Free Press last week adding that he had considered giving up the region's top political job. He also said that there are several things he'd like to see done before he moves on to other pursuits. Herrema is especially keen to see the GO Transit com- muter rail service ex- pansion to Whitby com- pleted, to see a new regional headquarters building constructed and to persuade regional council to develop an incinerator program for the disposal of solid waste. "We also need more money to complete our road projects," he ad- ded saying that the region needs more provincial government funding if Durham is to bring all of its roads up to the required standar- ds. However, there are still many problems facing the region - many of them political. While parochialism isn't as rampent as it was a few years ago, it still rears its ugly head, Herrema said, especially at budget time. "There is still some parochialism and jealousy," he said, "It's very evident at budget time. While it's getting better, it isn't quite good enough yet." The other problem the region still has to over- come is the lack of public awareness over what regional gover- nment is and what it's supposed to do. Regional government, Herrema maintains, is becoming more vital especially in the areas of water and sewer ser- vices, police protection, co-ordination of fire services as well as social services and other vital areas. Without the region, he said, there would "be chaos" in many of these areas. "It's hard to imagine the eight (municipalities in the region) going back to the 27" that existed before Durham was created in 1974, he said. People have to be made aware of the dual jurisdiction enjoyed by Durham and the local municipalities. "They have to be informed of the local municipality's responsibilities and ours," Herrema said adding, "That's where we have fallen down." Part of this lack of awareness has been caused because mern- bers of regional council are elected to there local council and not directly to the upper tier body. "We have to increase our responsibility and identity to the residen- ts," Herrema said. And that is another problem that he'd like to try and overcome. "There are still some challenges I want to conquer," Herrerna noted adding that with the GO Transit expan- sion and the prospects for new development getting brighter, the next three years are proving to be exciting ones. "The next three years are going to be fan- tastic," he concluded. At local gas station.... Break-min nets thieves $5,000 Thieves broke open Saturday and 8 a.m. the wall safe of a Sunoco Sunday. station in Whitby last The suspects, who weekend, making off gained entrance to the with $5,000 to $6,000 in station by forcing open a cash, credit card receip- bay window, ransacked ts and cheques. the office and broke a Durham Regional glass counter top. Police say the break-in Darnage is estimated at at Doug Sinclair Sales over $400. and Service, 1600 Police are still in- Rossland Rd. E., oc- vestigating the break- curred between il p.m. in. GOLDEN GATE, • 107 Brock Street South, Whitby 688-2222 This popular, 30-year old Chinese restaurant has recently in- troduced Szechuan Cuisine for those who like hot, spicy dishes. In addition to its Chinese fare the Golden Gate also of- fers a wide selection of Canadian dishes. The Bo-Bo platter and their chicken fingers are two specialities worth trying. Perfect for lun- ch or dinner. Open from 11 to 2 a.m. dally. Friday and Saturday until 3 a.m. Fully licenses. Dine-in and fast home delivery. NEW & USED OFFICE FURNITURE *BUYeRENT•SELL•LEASE PHONE 683-1968' &Office Supplies SHELVING LOCKERS $IDE FILES FILING CABINETS j'e) SPECIALS with Donna ONLY HAIRCUTS PERMS only 4.00 1/2 price PORCELAIN and ACRYLIC NAILS also available now LA CONTESSA BEAUTY LOUNGE 119 GREEN STREET, WHITBY 668-9262 PRO DODGE Your Local Chrysler-Dodge Sales and Service MM= Dealer Parts & Service - Thursdays till 9 p.m. 209 Dundas St. W., Whitby 666-3000