HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2014-09-03, Page 1414 News Record • Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Drivers failing to stop for school OPP to make it more
buses cause concern
difficult for distracted
drivers to hide
West Region Ontario Pro-
vincial Police (OPP) is gear-
ing up for this year's back -to -
school season by
encouraging everyone to be
vigilant and patient when
you encounter school buses.
The Independent School
Bus Operators Association
(ISBOA) conducted a prov-
ince -wide study with their
school bus companies
between May 5, 2014 and
May 9, 2014. During this
period, bus drivers
reported incidents where
vehicles failed to stop for
the school bus when lights
were flashing.
Results show that
approximately 151 such
incidents occurred each
day during the 5 -day
study. The majority of
these incidents (75%) hap-
pened while the vehicle
was approaching the bus
from the front. These
numbers concern the OPP
because bus drivers are
not the only people who
are responsible for the
lives of our children.
"As drivers, we know
that at certain times of the
day we can expect to
encounter school buses
during our travels. Drivers
need to be vigilant and
pay attention to the flash-
ing red lights and other
safety equipment used on
buses. Our children's
safety depends on it," says
West Region OPP Traffic
Inspector Ian Chappell.
The Highway Traffic Act
of Ontario indicates that
when a school bus is
stopped on the roadway
with its red lights acti-
vated and "Stop" sign out,
drivers must come to a
complete stop in -front of
and behind the bus.
Motorists must not pass
the stopped bus until the
stop arm is retracted and
the red lights are turned
off. The owner of a
vehicle can be charged if
their vehicle fails to stop
for a school bus even if
they were not the driver.
Back -to -school is always
a busy time for everyone.
The OPP and ISBOA are
working together to edu-
cate the public and to raise
awareness about the possi-
ble serious consequences
of ignoring school bus
flashing lights.
"Family-owned school
bus companies across the
province are pleased to be
working with their local law
enforcement agencies to
raise awareness about the
dangers of passing a stopped
school bus," says Steve Hull,
President of ISBOA. "Our
common goal is to make
back -to -school - and the rest
of the school year- safe for all
children who ride the bus."
For more information on
the study please visit the
ISBOA website.
MUNICIPALITY OF HURON EAST
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS 2014
NOTICE OF THE VOTERS' LIST
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, the list of all persons entitled to be electors for municipal
elections in this municipality has been prepared by the Clerk's office.
As of September 1, 2014 all electors should ensure that their names and relevant information are
correct on the Voters' List.
A person may make an application to the Clerk requesting that the person's name be added to or
removed from the Voters' List or that information on the Voters' List relating to the person be
amended by completing and filing the prescribed form available at:
The Office of the Clerk
MUNICIPALITY OF HURON EAST
72 Main St. S., Seaforth, ON NOK 1WO
during regular office hours between September 2, 2014 to October 24, 2014 and to the close of
voting on October 27, 2014. The application shall be in writing on the appropriate form (Form
EL15 or EL16) available at the municipal office and shall be filed in person, by the applicant or
his/her agent or by mail, by the applicant. Proof of identity and residence as prescribed in 0.
Reg. 304/14 will be required.
QUALIFICATIONS OF ELECTORS
A persons is entitled to vote in a municipal election if he or she on voting day,
— resides in the local municipality, or is the owner or tenant of land in the municipality, or
the spouse of such owner or tenant; and
is a Canadian citizen, and
is at least 18 years old, and
is not prohibited from voting by law.
DATED AT THE MUNICIPALTIY OF HURON EAST
THIS 3rd DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2014.
Brad Knight, CAO/Clerk
Municipality of Huron East
Motorists who talk on cell
phones, text or engage in
other forms of distraction
while driving will be easier
to spot now that the Ontario
Provincial Police (OPP) is
dedicating more police vehi-
cles to enforce Ontario's Dis-
tracted Driving legislation
full-time.
Ten unmarked police
vehicles took to the roads
over the Labour Day Long
Weekend province -wide
and the OPP anticipates that
these additional resources
are a much-needed meas-
ure to make Ontario roads
safer for those who share the
road with distracted drivers.
Thirty-five (35) people
have died so far this year
in motor vehicle colli-
sions (within OPP juris-
diction) in which an inat-
tentive driver was a
contributing factor. In
2013, 86 people died in
distraction -related colli-
sions. This category of
road fatality surpassed
both impaired -related
and speed -related deaths
investigated by the OPP
last year. Since Ontario's
distracted driving laws
were introduced in 2009,
the OPP has investigated
374 inattentive -related
road deaths (as of August
25, 2014).
"Our officers remain
deeply concerned with
the number of drivers
they see driving dis-
tracted, especially those
who talk on cell phones or
even worse - texting,
which is one of the most
dangerous activities to
engage in while driving.
Regardless of how safe a
driver, passenger or
pedestrian you may be,
you should be equally
concerned about the
number of motorists who
risk your life by not pay-
ing full attention to safely
sharing the road with
you," said Chief Superin-
tendent Chuck Cox, Com-
mander, OPP Highway
Safety Division.
The vehicles are being
implemented on the heels
of a survey of licenced
Ontario students, in
which almost 50 per cent
of Grade 12 students
admitted to texting while
driving. As of June 30,
2014, the OPP had laid
over 10,000 charges to
Ontario motorists who
were caught driving while
distracted.
Huron County OPP
officers have charged 172
drivers this year under the
Ontario Distracted Driving
Legislation. This number is
trending slightly below the
number of charges for the
2013 year.
Research shows that
there is a common mind-
set among drivers that
they can talk on their cell
phone, text, or engage in
other driver distractions
and do so safely. For this
reason, when you are in a
vehicle and the person
driving engages in any
form of distraction, take
charge of your own safety.
Never be afraid to speak
up. Tell the driver to
focus entirely on driving
and remind them that
they are placing your life
in danger and that you
have the right to be safe.
With school buses and
pedestrians travelling to
and from schools, the
OPP is urging all motor-
ists who engage in dis-
traction to come to terms
with the reality that there
is no such thing as a
"safe" distracted driver
and that all distracted
drivers pose a threat on
our roads.
OPP warn motorcycle deaths
headed for seven-year high
QM! Agency
Ontario police are
reminding drivers to be
aware of motorcyclists as
concerns grow the number
of bike -related deaths will
reach a seven-year high
this summer.
The Ontario Provincial
Police said as of Monday,
there have been 26
motorcycle fatalities in
OPP jurisdictions - 25
motorcyclists and one
passenger.
Last year, 28 motorcy-
clists died on Ontario
roads, compared to 26 in
2012 and 21 in 2011.
Since 2008, there have
been 168 motorcyclists and
seven passengers killed, the
OPP said.
It's not careless young
drivers that are dying, the
OPP said. Instead, the
highest rate of fatality is
among riders between the
ages of 45 and 54.
As well, 50 of the 175
motorcycle victims between
2008 and this year were
driving properly at the time.
"Far too often, the actions
of another driver are a
causal factor in motorcycle
crashes," the release said.
Police remind motorcy-
clists to wear high -visibility
equipment and motorists to
share the road.
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