(BRUCE PENINSULA, ON) – On November 26, 2015 at 3:30 p.m., the Bruce Peninsula Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), along with the Safe Communities Committee of South Bruce and the Owen Sound Police Service are teaming up to present a Distracted Driving, hands-on seminar at the Peninsula Shores District School gymnasium, in the Town of South Bruce Peninsula.
The OPP’s 2015 collision data is shaping up to see a seventh consecutive year in which inattentive driving surpasses impaired driving as a causal factor in the fatal collisions it investigates. Both of these fatality categories are dangerous, preventable driving behaviours that result in the senseless loss of life on Ontario roads every year. One of the projects on this year’s Safe Communities agenda is educating our local youth about the dangers of distracted driving and understanding the consequences of losing focus for even a couple of seconds, which can have devastating results. “While young people make up only 13% of licenced drivers, they account for 25% of all road-related injuries and fatalities,” statistic from Parachute Canada. Not only does the initial collision impact your life, but the aftermath of possibly being charged, to increased insurance costs and/or dealing with injury or death can be significant and inevitably impact your emotional and psychological well-being.
One of the committee member’s retired OPP officer, Terry Bell has been active working towards earning the designation for the Town of South Bruce Peninsula. As a former Community Services Officer, he also knows the importance of educating the young members of our community and the important role they play in keeping themselves and others safe. BELL is excited to bring on board Constable Mike DAZE of the Owen Sound Police Service who will be demonstrating the importance of safe driving and how quickly drivers can get distracted through cell phone, alcohol and drug impairment. “Two police forces coming together to address a common problem. They are not allowing jurisdictional borders interfere with a very positive and need message for our young drivers, “said retired OPP officer Terry BELL.
Background- in the spring of 2014, volunteer members who reside in the Town of South Bruce Peninsula have come together under the umbrella of Parachute Canada. The goal is to earn the Town of South Bruce Peninsula the designation of being a “Safe Community.”
Parachute Canada aims toward preventing serious injuries from children to seniors through education and programs. “Preventable injuries kill more Canadian children than any other single disease, and more youth than all other cause combined. Each year in Canada, preventable injuries cause: 16, 000 deaths, 60, 000 disabilities, 3.5 million emergency room visits, $27 billion economic burden to the Canadian economy and worst of all, 1 child dies every 9 hours, “ statistics from Parachute Canada.
The Safe Communities Committee is a community project and open to new members. Meetings are held at the Bruce Peninsula OPP detachment boardroom on the first Thursday of each month, except in July and August. The meetings start at 7:00 p.m.