www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, May 2, 2014 | 6 With distracted driving soaring in Halton, it's no wonder local law enforcement has turned to shocking motorists into complying with the ve-year-old traf c law. Last month, Halton police joined community partners in releasing a two-minute video dramatizing the potentially deadly consequences of not giving 100 per cent of your attention to the road while driving. The short lm was produced in November 2013 on a road in Georgetown. It involved the efforts of six Georgetown District High School drama and cosmetology students, along with Halton police of cers and paramedics and Halton Hills re ghters. The video depicts a mock crash in which two people are killed by a motorist who is texting while driving. Sadly, the video is far closer to fact than ction. According to the OPP , in 2013 distracted driving fatalities (78) surpassed both impaired (57) and speedrelated (44) fatalities investigated on provincial roads under its jurisdiction. Halton police say enforcement blitzes and other forms of public service announcements haven't had the desired impact of reducing the number of motorists multi-tasking as they drive in Halton. "Since the inception of the Distracted Driving law in 2009, the use of cellphones and telecommunication devices is rampant," said Halton police media relations of cer Sgt. Chantal Corner. How rampant? In 2013, Halton police issued 4,905 tickets for distracted driving. Although the provincial offences ne for distracted driving jumped from $155 to $280 in mid-March of this year, there's no evidence it's having the desired effect. Halton police laid 2,155 distracted driving charges in the rst quarter (January-March) of 2014 -- a staggering increase of 140 per cent over the 895 tickets issued at the same time last year. "One look at a text message takes a driver's eyes off the road for ve seconds -- a long time, especially when one is travelling at high speeds," said Corner. While the Oakville Beaver supports police doing all they can to draw attention to the potentially deadly consequences of driving while distracted, we're not sure public service announcements will ever reach those who refuse to comply with this law. Until our lawmakers come to the conclusion that a stronger deterrent -- including licence suspension and/ or incarceration -- is warranted, all police can do is keep handing out $280 tickets and continue to spread the message that distracted driving kills. And they will. Corner said Halton police will continue to conduct more enforcement of the issue. "... drivers are still not getting it.... It is a habit that people can't or won't break... perhaps until it's too late. A tough lesson to learn... as the video so greatly depicts," she said of the recently produced public service announcement (PSA) video. On April 7, the distracted-driving video began airing on TVCogeco throughout Halton, leading up to Canada Road Safety Week (May 13-19). It is also one of the PSAs playing on monitors in the lobby of Halton's police stations. The video can be viewed at http://goo.gl/0oYfml, on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4xTl635nT4, the Halton police website, www.haltonpolice.ca, and at www.oakvillebeaver.com. Seeking attention B O W Editorial L I N G F O R "Connected to your Community" C O L L A R S 447 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 52 | Number 53 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Halton Region Editor in Chief Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production SANDY PARE MARK DILLS Kathy Curran takes her best aim during the recent second annual Bowling for Collars event in support of The Oakville & Milton Humane Society at Burlington Bowl. The fundraiser that supports the programs and services of the local humane society and animal shelter was organized by B & R Promotions. | photo by Michael Ivanin - special to the Beaver MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Letter to the Editor Putting Gutsy Walk into the spotlight On Sunday, June 8, nearly 15,000 Canadians will walk united, 500 of them in Halton Region at Spencer Smith Park, Burlington, at the 19th annual Gutsy Walk to advance Crohn's and Colitis medical research. I am looking to help create awareness for this community event and to share a personal story about living with this Canadian disease. Canadians have more reasons to be concerned about Crohn's and colitis than anyone else in the world. One in every 150 Canadians suffers from these chronic diseases -- a rate that ranks in the highest worldwide. Many here in Halton live with Crohn's or colitis, so it's likely someone you know is affected by this painful and often stigmatizing disease. In its 19th year, the Gutsy Walk, Crohn's and Colitis Canada's largest, single-day fundraiser will hope to raise more than $3 million across 59 local walk sites. Organized by local volunteer chapters, such Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member as ours, this regional event is a fun and healthy way to support those in our community living with Crohn's and colitis. This year's Halton Gutsy Walk is represented by local Honourary Chair Ryan Greenlaw. Ryan is 16 and was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at age 13. After experiencing pain when he was younger, the doctors discovered he had Crohn's disease. Ryan loves music and plays the guitar, cello, violin and clarinet. He dreams of a career as a biomedical engineer so he can help make a difference. The Halton Crohn's and Colitis Canada volunteer chapter works throughout the year to educate our community about these diseases, and raise funds for much-needed research. For more information about the GUTSY WALK, visit us online at www.gutsywalk.ca. Karyn Poad, media captain Halton Region Chapter Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Proud Official Media Sponsor For: The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 5040 Mainway, Burlington ON L7L 7G5 or via e-mail to; ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. 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