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6 - The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, May 4, 2001 SCOMMENT Let's put the brakes on vehicle collisions Rural Milton recorded a more than 35 per cent increase in car crash- es last year and the town overaîl had more deaths on its roads than any other municipality in the region. Ail in ail, there were 18 deaths from collisions in Halton and eight of them were in Milton. Aggressive driving - speeding, following too close and improper passing, etc. - causes 85 per cent of collisions. Our rural roads weren't built for speed and volume. Consider the sharp bends and knolls and then add a bunch of aggressive drivers. The collision rate will climb, no doubt about it. While many problems are due to commuters traveling through town, there's a lot to be said about the actions of local drivers. Motorîsts complain about speeders while many of thern probably speed theruselves. People complain about drivers not stopping for lights and stop signs, but do they always corne to a complete stop? As Road Safety Week approaches, help put the brakes on collisions by obeying the law. It's that simple. O UR READERS WRITE Arthrttis volunteers do outstanding work Dear Editor: Congratulations to the Zone Chairs Helen Powers, Majorie Powys, Regina Featherstone, Ji Powers and Bey Mehlenbacher as well as the Royal Banik, thse Knights of Columbus for the golf toumnaments, thse Aquatic Pool Program, the donors and canvassers. lheir dedcation to the critical ariluitis cause duing the yearly campaigns is out- standing. Thse Milton branch is in second position in thse Haton-Peel region. Audrea Loar-Coatigan, chair Arthritia Society, Milton branch Do you have writing experience along with informed opinions on local issues? We're seeking a columnist. Please send us a note explaining why you want to__1 be a Champion columnist. Include writing samples. THE CANADIAN CHAMPION Intermodal executive says CN's Milton site selection worst he's seen in hîs experience Dear Editor: Re: Julian Reed's letter to thse edi- tor of April 10. Mr. Reed is playing with the facts. While it may be true that railways as an industry may be three times as fuel efficient as trucks, their inter- modal product is, at most, 1.5 times as efficient when ail fuel consump- tion (locomotive, truck and lift equipment) is tallied. It's probahly untruc that tour extra trains per day wiJJ remove 300,000 trucks trom thse Toronto- Montreal corridor. Railroad inter- modal service in North America has been historically unsuccessful in distances of ess than 800 miles (1,300 kms). It's more ikely that this terminal is being built to serve thse US. and intemnational markets. If the projections are correct, 300,000 trucks will be removed from the westbound 401 and QEW four and six-Jane highways and rerouted to two Jane rural roads in Halton. This terminal will not remove a single truck from OTA roads. In fact it will intensify con- gestion by concentrating the vol- ume in a single area. Pollution levels wiJl increase sub- stantiaJly in thse GTA. Long haul trucks tend to be replaced every two to three years and maintained by company garages thus producing lower evels of emissions. Thse local delivery leets that serve rail inter- modal terminaIs tend to be older, owner-operated vehicles. These vehicles spend a considerable amount of tme idling at in-and-out gates due to volume backlogs. They also spend the majority of the day in urban congestion. Having spent 20 years in an exec- utive position in the intermodal industry, I heartily endorse inter- modalism. Having visited in excess of 100 intermodal terminaIs across North America, 1 believe that CN's pro- posed location could be one of thse worst site selections in my experi- ence. Mr. Reed ... something to think about on your daily commute. Mike McElhone CampbeiviIIe Box 248, 191 Main St. E., Thre Canadien Champion. published eveny Tuesday ani Fnday ai 191 Main S. t , Milon, Ot, L.5T 4N9(Bosa 248), is one oi Tie Meroland Milton, Ont. 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Wendy McNab Adverli.eing Mahnager Advetisng is accepied on tbe condiiinn a, in the eeni ni a iypo- grapiricai errer, irai portion o ire adnerising space occupied by the eren- Karen Smith Edireir neous item, ingeiber wi a reasonable alowance ion signature, wil esi be SeeCrozier Cïreulaien Manuager chrged io, boi ire balance o ire aderiiseni ciii e paid on ai ihe appli- Stevecabe raie. The publisirer reserues the righi in caiegorze adeisemenis on - . --~-- ,auuu.., aan,,,',decine.1r aa TJm Cales Preidue.Cuein Muueîuîger Tire MiSen canadian cirampien s aRecyciabie Peoiluci Letters welcome The Canadian Champion welesomes letters to the edtor We reserve the right to edit, revise, and rejct ltters. tetters must be signed and the vrter'e address and the telephone number included. Mail letters ta: The Canadian Champion, Box 248, Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9, or leave them at aur office, 191 Main St. E., or e-mail Miltoned@haltonseerch.com. Pud by Steve Nease Teri Casas VI.Tice manager The Mon Canadian Champion is a Recyclable Product Tim Coles Production Manager - il