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Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-04-29, Page 6Page 6 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, April 29, 2009 Editonal www.goderichsignalstar.com Proprietor and published by Bowes Publishers, P.U. Bar 220, 120 ttueLins Street. clocks-Ult. (bow ? N7.4 4B( EDITORIAL Ontario to act against cell phone use behind wheel We've all witnessed the offenders at the wheel. In fact, many of us are guilty of the infraction, intended or not. Those drivers who insist on maneuvering through traffic, one hand on the steering wheel, another holding a cell phone to an attentive ear. Others believe they possess the manual dexterity enabling thea to drive and send and receive -text messages. Their concentration is clearly compromised. Their attention is clearly divided between driving and conversing on the phone. It's a sign of the times and as long as people use wireless communications to converse and text message one another, they will pose a serious hazard on the road, a hazard that could endanger their life as well as the lives of others. It's not a gamble we should be willing to allow. There is too much at stake. Just as societal attitudes towards drinking and driving changed drastically and led to serious consequences leveled at those who insist on driving while. over the legal limit of alcohol in the bloodstream, educative work needs to be done in the case of wireless devices. That is all about to change for Ontario drivers this year. Ontario motorists will have until fall before it becomes illegal to use hand- held cellphones and other electronic devices such as BlackBerrys and global positioning systems while driving. Ontario now becomes the fourth province in Canada to enact legislation that will make it illegal for drivers to talk on hand-held phones or use other •elec- tronic devices. There was unanimous approval for the provincial "distracted driving" law last week but it will take several months before Minister Jim Bradley is able to launch an education campaign for the law and introduce a number of regu- lations and permissible exemptions. The law will mean that drivers caught using hand-held devices while behind the wheel will be subject to fines of up to $500. There will be permissible use of headsets and voice-activated dialing. Bradley is going to hear from a number of companies like couriers, trucking firms and cab companies,.whose drivers must be contact with a central base for delivery instructions. While the government is willing to listen to compelling case; the minister has made it clear that safety for the driving public "will be paramount." And that's the critical element to the introduction of the law. It gives law enforcement the means to crack -down on unsafe driving practices like texting while at the wheel without having to lay careless or dangerous driving charges that carry larger fines and significant loss of demerit points. Not that use of wireless devices while driving doesn't constitute dangerous or careless use of a vehicle; but police will now be able to target offenders with serious fines and drivers who face those fines will start to get the message. Hopefully. People are going to have to get used to the fact that distracted driving is dan- gerous and will soon be illegal as well. It's a law whose time has come and it will help save lives and serious injury. D.S. N1..N. The Godench Signal `Star. published every Wednesday at Goderich. Ontario is one, of The Signal -Star Publishing Group 4 Community Newspapers, a divnirm of Rowes Publishers. The Godrrich Signal Star shall not be liable for . failuri. to publish an ad for typographical errors in publication except to the extent of the cost irf that portion of the ad in which the error occurred. The.Goderfch Signal -Sar reserves the right to reject or edit any advertisement. The Goderich Signal -Star is a proud member of the Canadian' Community Newspapers Association (CCNA) and The Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA). Editorial Deadlines... Advertising I)e Entertainment, In Mentoriams. Classifieds... Display Advert Telephone Fax.... Publisher... Reporters... Mum 1115 lRAoi Ti oNi ... I oolii T KNOW tow( 8uT THE PUKE Of Gporm CN 14Av. BETA cALL146 VIC CIRCULAR SNAPS "TNS SGuARE "' FOP. 4fr'ARS... ITs KiNb OP these CAU.iNb YouR FooTBAU.• 5NAPEI) READ 'I NORMAL " Noy' VEtutis 114C Love 3%040! nspired by dedication of local Lions Club inititives To the Editor: Recently I was honoured by the Lions Clubs International with a Humanitarian award. These Melvin Jones Fellowships are in memory of Melvin , Jones, the original founder of Lions, who set the group on . a humanitarian path almost 100 years ago. Through these fellowships local clubs are able to assist communities worldwide, par- ticularly those with vision problems. My award letter from the Chairperson of the Lions Clubs International Foundation says, "In many cases these needs are reflected in the eyes of disadvantaged chil- dren. Or perhaps made apparent by a com- mon sense of hopelessness shared by the elderly whose community has been unable to care for them." Monday at 10 am adlincs... Births, Deaths, .. Friday at 3 pm Monday al noon ising... Monday at noon 4110 519-524-2614 519-524-5145 Dave Sykes Dominique Milburn Gerard d Crece s Denny Scott Letters (/onion When my late husband and I moved to Goderich in 1947, we quickly realized that our new town was being constantly bet- tered by Lions, working quietly and confi- dentially with special needs. We both lived our lives with this common goal of helping others. I regret that he was not beside me to receive this very meaningful honour. It is a special privilege to be part of such a compassionate and beautiful community. Sincerely, Marian Hindman!) Goderich Classifieds k Subscript) in... Accounting... Office Manager... Display Sales... .lurJ v Austin Rhonda Butt Mary Johnston Janet Shrier Lisa McLaren Keitlt Moreland Advertising Manager... Kevin Shrier Email... gssnews@bowedtet.cont,gsssports@howestwt.cont gssads@howesitet.cont, goderickuls@bowesnet.com website... www. goderich signalslar. com 4111••••••• PUBLICATION/ MAOI AGREEMENT No, 44064683 PAP REGISTRATION No. 7602 RETURN UNOEuvERAPLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES To: Circulation Dap)., 120 Hucldns 81., P,O. Box 120, Oodorich, ON, N7A 486 (614) 624.2614 EMAIL: pssnsws@boWssnotoom We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Anistance Program (PAIN, toward Mur mailing cow, Canad 1 Apcna