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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1977-06-15, Page 4Page 4 Citizens News, June 15, 1977 "Do you have any experience?" "Of course — I've been on strike many times." f Watch those trucks Ever since the speed limit on our highways was lowered from 70 to 60 on our expressways and to 50 miles per hour on all other highways, except where otherwise. posted, complaints have been mounting regarding the motoring conduct of some truckers. It used to be that truck drivers were the most respected motorists on the roadways. However that attitude is chang- ing. Now other motorists travelling the Iikes of the 401 or the Queen Elizabeth are more than likely to have complaints about how they were cut off, tailgated or passed at a high rate of speed by some 18 -wheeler. Most of the motoring public can realize that truckers are running on a tight schedule. While a few minutes per mile is meaningless to us, to the trucker time is in- deed money. But this knowledge doesn't make the driver of a compact travelling at 50 or 60 mph feel any better about some great lumbering truck screaming in front of.him at around 70 or 75 mph. It's enough to unnerve even the most seasoned of drivers. Another bane of the everyday motorist is the travel bus which habitually travels as though it was running a couple of hours behind schedule. While travel bus companies haven't appeared to be unduly concerned about the rate of speed maintained by their drivers — their excellent drivers, we might add — this is not the case as far as truckers are concerned. The Ontario Trucking Association has recently issued a brochure entitled Sharing the Road with a Truck. The purpose of the publication is twofold. Besides offering some helpful hints on such topics as: tur- ning, passing, backing accidents, rollback accidents, CB radios, tailgating and stop- ping, the association adds this piece of ad- vice: "If you see a truck driver behaving in an unsafe manner or failing to observe courtesy on the highway, let the Ontario Trucking Association know about it. Record the vehicle's licence plate(s), number on cab door or rear of trailer and name of his company if available. Note also the time, date and location of the incident. "Then write to: The Safety Council, Ontario Trucking Association, 555 Dixon Road, Rexdale, Ontario M9W 1H8. Or telephone (416) 247-7131. The information you provide will be forwarded to the driver's company on a confidential basis. It will then take appropriate action." Now that's what we call a responsible attitude. Copies of the leaflet Sharing the Road with a Truck are available from the Association at the address given above. Water Safety. .Someone falls into the water and screams for help. There is no standard lifesaving device handy. What do you do? Here are some tips from the Canada Safety Council. The first thing you don't do is jump in after the person unless you have been train- ed in life-saving! There is often something at hand which can be used as a flotation device — a thermos jug, a capped water can, a plastic cooler, even the spare tire in the trunk of your car — if you think fast and keep your head. Empty the container, reseal and toss it within reach of the person in trouble. The spare tire is buoyant enough to support four or five persons even when mounted on the heavy steel wheel. Since it is too heavy to be thrown, swim and push the tire in front of you. Keep the tire between you and the person in trouble so as to stay clear of his panicky clutch, When he has grasped the tire and calmed down you both can hand paddle to shore. Dear Editor, It is seventy-five years since the Peace of Vereeniging brought the Anglo -Boer War to a close. The Boer War was the occasion of Canada's first major overseas military campaign, and relatively little has been written about the participation of the Canadian contingents. I am engaged in researching the role of the Canadian forces in this conflict, and I am anxious to get in touch with surviving veterans or with relatives or friends of veterans. Volunteers from Ontario were especially prominent in the Canadian contingents in South Africa. I will be travelling and researching throughout Ontario during the next few months and I would be most grateful if readers could assist me in this project, I am especially anxious to gain access to papers in private possession pertaining to the War. Should readers be aware of the existence of letters, diaries, scrapbooks, photographs, paintings or arty other pertinent material, I would be most ap- preciative if they would write to me at the address below as soon as possible, In addition to the troops there were also Canadian correspondents, doctors, nurses, priests and teachers who went to South Africa. Any information about these participants would also be greatly appreciated. 1 Hugh Robertson, 224 Springfield Road, Ottawa, Ontario, K1M OK9 Wbrd by Cathy McKinley m AMA. - One Year Today For the past 52 weeks, I have hammered out a column regardless of wind, weather or wishes. In honor of my one year of column writing, I officially declare this week's column to be a holiday for me — no column this week, I'll try again next. Published Each Wednesday By J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd. eN. Member: Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association Ontario Weekly Newspapers Association Manager - Betty O'Brien News Editor - Cathy McKinley Second Class Mail Registration Number 1385 Subscription Rates: $7.00 per year in advance in Canada $18.00 per year outside Canada Single copies 204