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The Times Advocate, 2006-12-13, Page 1414 TIMES—ADVOCATE Wednesday, December 13, 2006 Tis the season to travel safe on the roads MISSISSAUGA - This month travelers will face more than just inclement weather when it comes to driving. Increased traffic from last-minute shopping trips and social visits to family and friends will also impact road travel safety over the next few weeks. Holiday traffic and unpredictable weather condi- tions make it more important than ever for Canadians to tune-up on winter driving skills. Holiday DrivingTips Here are some safe driving tips for the holiday sea- son: • Arrive safely • Always appoint a designated driver when attend- ing seasonal gatherings. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, on average four Canadians are killed and approximately 190 Canadians are injured daily as a result of alcohol/drug related crash- es. • Be aware of distracted drivers Actions such as cell phone usage, eating/drinking, personal grooming or reading maps can take a driver's attention off the road. Be aware of these distracted drivers, always expect the unexpected and leave yourself a way out. • Slow and steady keeps you safe. Sudden moves can cause a loss of control when road traction is poor. Even if the roads are clear, black ice is a major haz- ard when the temperature dips. Depending on the weather conditions, adjust your speed and following distance accordingly. • Tune in to traffic. Monitor traffic reports for road closures and delays, and prepare an alternate route just in case. Winter storms can sometimes hit with- out warning, so be sure to check reports on the way home too. • Develop a driving emergency kit. Carry a blanket, flashlight, candles, matches, jumper cables and a shovel in your trunk. Kitty litter or sand is also useful to gain traction if you happen to get stuck. • Sharing the road with commercial vehicles: Commercial vehicles can be a lot heavier than an average car, and need much more time and distance to stop. Avoid cutting in front of trucks or braking suddenly in front of them and remember, if you can't see the driver's face in their side mirror, they can't see you. • Keep headlights and tail lights clean. Dark winter days make it more difficult to see other motorists and pedestrians. Turn headlights on at least a half hour before sunset to increase your visibility and keep windshields and mirrors clean to avoid glare. Don't look directly at oncoming headlights, instead avert your eyes to the right side of the road. • Buckle -up: Wear your safety belt properly every time you get behind the wheel, even for short dis- tances and make sure your passengers do too! Young children should always be securely strapped in an age-appropriate car seat. If you need assistance with proper installation, contact your local police ser- vice or public health unit. POLICE BRIEF Car reverses to avoid being stopped by checkpoint GRAND BEND — On Dec. 3, shortly after midnight, officers were conducting a RIDE checkpoint on Ontario Street in Grand Bend. It is alleged that a van approached the checkpoint, stopped and then reversed through an intersection to avoid being stopped. Officers proceeded after the vehicle. After driving several blocks through the streets of Grand Bend, the vehicle was stopped on Queen Street. The driver had been drinking and a roadside breath demand was made of him. The subsequent reading was a fail. Subsequent breath tests showed that a 43 -year-old man from Dashwood was more than two times the legal limit. He will appear in Sarnia Court Jan. 15. Trail markers to help Emergency Response teams EXETER — The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) has enhanced the safety of the South Huron Trail with trail mark- ers. The markers will help Emergency Response Teams locate individuals who are needing assistance while on the trail more easily. The ABCA has fin- ished erecting trail distance markers so that someone needing help along the trail or near Morrison Reservoir can more accurately describe their location to emergency crews. "People should pay attention to the mark- ers in case they need to call for help," says ABCA stewardship and conservation lands supervisor Kate Monk. Trail markers —The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) has enhanced the South Huron Trail with safety markers.Above left is South Huron District High School co-operative education student Jake Homuth and ABCA field staffTony Drinkwalter. (photolsubmitted) "If someone needs help they can now better identi- fy their location which will help emergency service response crews," Monk adds. The 40 trail markers have been placed every 200 metres for 8.4 kilometres. The posts start from MacNaughton Park in Exeter and are located along the trail on the south side of the river, through Morrison Dam Conservation Area to the east end of the trails and back to MacNaughton Park on the north side of Morrison Reservoir and the Ausable River. The MacNaughton Park kiosk marker is '0.0 metres' and the numbers increase from there as it loops around the trail to the 8.2 km marker. The work was finished in November by ABCA field staff Tony Drinkwalter, Wayne Ford and South Huron District High School (SHDHS) co-operative education student Jake Homuth. South Huron fire chief John Morgan praised the addition of the trail markers. "It's a benefit for fire personnel and all emergency services," says Morgan. The trail markers will not only increase safety but they will also assist runners and walkers who want to keep track of the distance they have travelled, according to Monk. The posts will be beneficial for cross-country Linda Reaume Design Consultant Bob Smyth Design Consultant Wast Coast k i t c h e n s... And Much More • Kitchens • CustomVanities • Entertainment Units • Home Offices PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATIONS CUSTOM DESIGNS & COUNTERTOPS Visit Our Showroom! 50 West St. Goderich 519-440-0352 • 1-866-440-0352 Goderich & District Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award 2006 Email: westcoastkit@cabletv.on.ca races, fundraising events and the South Huron Trail Run. Funding for the new trail markers was made pos- sible through the ABCA and donations to the MacNaughton Morrison Section of the South Huron Trail. Other safety initiatives over the past year have included the erection of `Trail Crossing' signs along Morrison Line, a co-operative effort of the ABCA and the Municipality of South Huron. Donations to support the MacNaughton Morrison Section of the South Huron Trail can be made to the Exeter Lions Club or the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation. For more information phone 235-2610 or 1-888-286-2610. HURON COUNTY ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE The County of Huron has established an Accessibility Advisory Committee (HCAAC) to advise the Council in each year about the preparation, implementation and effectiveness of its accessibility plan. The HCAAC is made up of 12 voting members including: 7 persons with disabilities as defined in the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001, 2 persons from professional disciplines, 1 elected official and 2 citizen representatives. The HCAAC is supported by 5 non-voting members including: the chair of the ODA working group, 1 person from the County Planning Department, 1 person from the County Social Services Department, 1 Municipal Building Official and the County Clerk or their designate. The County of Huron invites applications for the following positions on the HCAAC: • Professional Discipline - one position to be filled. • Citizen Representative - one position to be filled. The Committee will have a total of four meetings per year. Candidates must be at least 18 years old, Canadian citizens, and residents of Huron County. Please submit a written application by January 5, 2007 to: HCAAC Attn: County Clerk Corporation of the County of Huron 1 Court House Square Goderich, ON N7A 1M2 Fax: 519-524-2044 TIMES - ADVOCATE GIFT SUBSCRIPTION CANADIAN SUBSCRIPTION RATES ne Year - $40.00 + 2.40 GST = $42.40 Two Year - $72.00 + 4.76 GST = $76.32 ORDER BY PHONE, FAX OR EMAIL WITH VISA OR MASTERCARD, (GIFT CARD INCLUDED) 424 MAIN ST. EXETER, ONT. NOM 1S6 (519) 235-1331 • FAX (519) 235-0766 email: srollings©southhuron.com TI1V_ S -ADVOCATE