PAGE 12, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1987 Aclose cai at the Whitby train tra ek By PETER BRAMMA Durham Regional Police Police officers, spending most of tbeir working day out on patrol, of- ten see people do some incredible tbings when driving. The most unbelievable situation I witnessed bappened about ten years ago. I was driving along Vic- toria St. in Whitby and the car ini front of me was approaching the railway crossing. Suddenly the red lights and beils were activated by the approacb of a train. The driver, thinking he didn't bave time to stop, drove on. The gate came down rigbt behind him!1 Noticing this he stoppèd bis car and attempted to back up. Rather than breaking through the gate, he stopped again as he reached the barrier. The problem was bis car was stiil across the nearside track (three tracks at tbis location). By now the train was bearing down on the crossing with the train engineer furiously sounding the horn. I was bbout to close my eyes rather than witness the terrible im- pact when suddenly the driver swung bis car forw ard and to thje right so that the vehicle was now parallel to the nearside track. The train was on this nearside track and it thundered by, missing the car by only a few inches... After the train bad gone the driver pulled slowly over the other side and shortly thereafter I pulled him over. I had to know why he would do such an incredible tbing! Everyone in the car (he had his wife and two children with him) were pale and shaken by this near brush with death. The reason he bad done-wbat he dîd:panici Panic caused him to ignore the obvious which was to simply drive out of the other side of the crossing. After'ail the gates only block half the roadway so that this. can be done. Obviously, to make a mistake or panic at a railway crossing could have disastrous results. It's aiso not the place to take chances. An astonishing 37 per cent of al railway accidents are caused by drivers ignoring 'the lghts or driving around the barriers. A new weapon in the war on railway accidents was unveiled in Ontario recently. The first of thousands * f new, highly-reflective warning signs that will be installed across the province over the next year. The signs, in red, and white will be visible from greater distan- ces, particularly at night when they reflect light far more brightly than the old black and white -signs long familiar to Canadian drivers. While maintaîning the crossed shape, they are pictôgraphic, in that tbey carry no lettering, this will be universal across Canada. The changeove r began Iast year in British Columbia and Aberta. 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Stock up vinyt coated tor a comtfort- now and save t able grip. HASI Our Reg 1.19 VARIETIES Ou e..39 SALE 180 ~'!SALE *4 <'k Our reg. "'"E ENDSMA"cM. sa OPEN M e1SUNDAYS! HIB rMondaSit. Pidey 9 00o B-o0 Pin PATIO FURNITURE NOT SOLO i1243 Dundas St. SSat. S.. & 4tdy9O ar-1110 pm ON SUNOAYS OR HOLIOAYS WE RESERVE TH4E RtOt4T TO LMT'OUANTTtES GREEN CROSS DORMANT DIAL A SPRAYSPRAY KITS GREEN Kilts over wintering pests CROSS\, For disease and insect C OS fraeefruit trees. Spray earlyasqs wilh Dormant Oit& Lime lfie rs utata SulphUr (1 L Lme SulptiUr tyipes ot sprays F rm 50mi. Dormant Ot> .-) - Frut Tres to Wood APPLY NOW 1 SALE ISL 088 PRAYS UP 88 Ou eg - --5-0 Ou9re 1 3.9V O~ F MIX 1I1Our OSHAWA E. 300 Taunton Rd. spring. The railways are now in- stalling the new signs in Saskat- chewan, Manitoba and Ontario. By March 31, 1988, the conversion of more than 31,000 crossings will have occurred. There are more than 6,500 crossings Mi Ontario, the second largest number in any province. In addition to warning signs about 45 per cent of ail crossings have flashing lights and beils. Although Ontario bas one-quarter of ail railway crossings in Canada, the province accounted for one third of ail accidents. That was 199 acciden- ts last year in Ontario with 18 deaths and 98 injuries. To prevent yourself from becoming a railway accident statistic remember the following: - At level railway crossings, slow down. Listen, and look both ways to make sure the way is clear before attempting to cross the tracks If a train is approaching, or the Iights are flashing, stop not less than fi've metres (15 ft) from the nearest rail. It is also illegal to drive a vehicle tbrougb, around or under a crossing gate or barrier while the gate or barrier is closed, or is beîng open or closed. Remenfiber, it's easier for you to stop than the train. In fact, a freight train with 150 cars, travelling at 50 km per hour requires 1,600 metres to corne to a stop. So please, be ex- tra careful at railway crossings. Commng events FROM PAGES8 UNITED WAY The annual meeting of the United Way of Oshawa-Whitby-Newcastle will be held Wednesday, March 25 at the Bowmanville Lions Club. Guest speaker will be Cathy O'Flynn, president of the, Oshawa Chamber of Commerce. Reception at 6 p.m., dinner at 7:30 p.m., for the public meeting. MOUSE*MO VIES Great mouse movies will be held at the Whitby Public Library on Wednesday, March 18, 10:30 to 11: 30 a.m. and 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. ART SHOW Art work by students from al Wbitby elementary and secondary schools will be on exhibit at the Station Gallery, Whitby, Marcb 1 to 30. The fifth student exhibit will be a cross-section of ail forms of arts. The show will officially open at 2 p. m., March 1. SELF HELP The Self Heip Group for Depressives . and Manic- Depressives will meet 7 to 9 p.m., Thursday, March 12 at 111 Simcoe St. N.(second floor), Oshawa. For more information caîl Sandra Manuel at 728-9931. STREET BEAT The students and staff of Henry Street High School are presenting a spiring fashion show in the school's cafetorium on March 12 at 7:30 p.m. Entitled "Street Beat '87" the proceeds are to be donated to the Canadian Diabetes Association. Clothing will be supplied, by. numerous stores in the Pickering Town Centre and other stores in the Oshawa/Whitby area. Valentino's in Whitby will be donating the hair and makeup and Touch of Class wiil be supplying- the music and iighting. Cost for the show is $4 per person. Tickets may be purchased at the door on the evening of this event. FRECKLE JUICE "Freckie Juice," by the Erewhon Theatre of Canada, will be held at the Whitby Public Library 2:30 to 3:15 p.m., Monday, March 16. Freckle Juice is based oni the story by Judy Blume and is suitable for kids 5 and over. Tickets are $1, available at children's desk. ib. b amo qe