Ringing cellphone cited in crash that kills 17 year old from London

We are saddened to hear about the death of a 17 year old from London, Ontario who crashed his car while reaching for his ringing cellphone. Accidents like this are tragic, which is why we have been fighting to bring distracted driving to the same level of public awareness as drunk driving. Young drivers should be aware of the potential dangers of driving while being distracted by things like hand-held devices. In Ontario, drivers who drive distracted with cellphones can be charged up to $500. If they endanger others while driving, they can even face careless driving charges, which means they can be charged with up to $1000 in fines and even face jail time.

To read more about the accident, follow this link.

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2009/06/05/9683506-sun.html

To read more about the cellphone ban in Ontario, follow this link.

http://www.studentlifeeducation.com/Page.asp?IdPage=7050&WebAddress=tslec

Teen clocked at 194 km/h on Hwy. 410

http://www.thestar.com/article/604772

"Designated Driver" Hears Sentence For Deadly Impaired Accident

Monday March 9, 2009 CityNews.ca Staff
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_32751.aspx

Ontario Bill 118 and Bill 126 - Info on Public Hearings

The Ministry of Transportation, Ontario, have sent along the public hearings schedule so we could pass it on to you, school leaders. We encourage you to attend these public hearings and make a presentation when the hearing is held in your local area. You’ll recall that Bill 126 have 3 prominent drinking and driving countermeasures: zero BAC for 21 and under, 7 day vehicle impoundment for driving without an ignition interlock and 7 day vehicle impoundment for blowing over 0.08 BAC or refusing to provide a breath sample.

Those who want to present need to contact Trevor Day – the Clerk of the Committee – as soon as they can. The deadline is 12:00 noon on Thursday, January 29^th (written submissions are taken until February 20^th at 12:00pm noon. If there are some unable to attend the Public Hearings we would appreciate written submissions as well). Those wishing to attend can either write to:

Trevor Day Room 1405, Whitney Block Queen’s Park Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A2
Or preferably call: 416-325-3509. Collect Calls will be accepted.

Click here for more information on our website from the Ministry of Transportation.

Times for the public hearings in Toronto have yet to be established.

Date: Monday, February 9, 2009

City: Niagara Falls ON

Meeting Times: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (times approximate, subject to number of witnesses scheduled)

Location: Great Falls Ballroom, Hilton Niagara Falls Fallsview

Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2009

City: Goderich ON

Meeting Times: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (times approximate, subject to number of witnesses scheduled)

Location: Knights of Columbus Community Hall, 390 Parsons Court, Goderich, N7A 4K3

Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2009

City: Sudbury ON

Meeting Times: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (times approximate, subject to number of witnesses scheduled)

Location: Palladium North & Centre Rooms, Radisson Hotel Sudbury

Date: Thursday, February 12, 2009

City: Kingston ON

Meeting Times: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (times approximate, subject to number of witnesses scheduled)

Location: Harbour Shadows Room, Radisson Hotel Kingston Harbourfront

Province relaxes rules for teen driviers - Article

Article from www.thestar.com Dec 09, 2008 04:30am

Web uprising helps kill bid to limit youths in car

Dec 09, 2008 04:30 AM

Rob Ferguson
Theresa Boyle
Staff Reporters

A massive online uprising by Ontario teens has helped kill a controversial government proposal that would have limited how many youths can be in a car with a teenaged driver.

"Congrats people. (The) premier of Ontario pulled back," rejoiced a member of a Facebook page protesting the proposed change, identified as Pranav Bedi of Toronto.

Bowing to pressure that included the Facebook webpage with almost 150,000 members, Transportation Minister Jim Bradley said yesterday the provision – announced last month as part of a package to make roads safe – will be scrapped.

"We have listened," Bradley told the Legislature, noting concerns that the restriction would limit car pooling, rides to school, sporting events and social gatherings in areas where teens can't rely on public transit. He acknowledged MPPs have been hearing an earful from constituents, particularly in northern and rural areas.

Under the proposal, teenaged drivers would have been limited to one passenger 19 or younger during the first year of a class G2 licence, with an exemption for members of their immediate family.

The plan to limit the number of drivers was especially opposed by teens in rural areas who rely on car pools to get around.

"It's really hard to get around if you live in a rural area," said Steve Krysak, 19, in an interview. He is now a student at the University of Waterloo but grew up just outside of Shelburne. It would take him an hour to walk to town, he noted.

"If one friend has a car he drives everyone around," Krysak said.

Premier Dalton McGuinty had hinted late last month the backlash was prompting the government to think twice about the restriction, part of several reforms that will also forbid drivers 21 or younger having any alcohol in their blood.

It's about time Bradley backed down on the change, which was "clearly unworkable," said Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory.

While the proposal was scrapped, the current restriction on drivers in their first year of a G2 licence having more than one passenger in the car aged 19 or under will remain in place from midnight to 5 a.m.

National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims

No. H 228/08
For release - November 19, 2008

CANADA’S TRANSPORT MINISTER HONOURS THE MEMORY OF CANADA’S ROAD CRASH VICTIMS

OTTAWA — November 19, 2008

On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to extend my sympathies to all Canadians who have lost loved ones in road collisions. On this first National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims, we reflect on the lives lost and renew our resolve to improve the safety of Canadian roads.

On average, eight Canadians are killed in road collisions every day. Many more are impacted — family members, friends and other loved ones are left grieving.

We all have a part to play in keeping our roads safe. That is why our government took action and toughened the laws meant to deter impaired driving, while giving police better tools to keep offenders in jail. This is just a start.

Most of the deaths caused by road collisions are preventable and avoidable. Whether it is observing speed limits, wearing a seat belt or abstaining from driving while impaired or fatigued, let’s work together to prevent these tragedies. Let that be the legacy of the victims we remember today.

- 30 -

Contact:
Chris Day Press Secretary Office of Transport Minister John Baird, Ottawa 613-991-0700

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.

This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.

A second is all it takes

Welland Centennial Secondary School hosted the launch of National Students Against Impaired and Distracted Driving Day
Posted By MARYANNE FIRTH/Tribune Staff
Posted 7 days ago


WELLAND

Think and drive, a second is all it takes.

Those important words were sprawled across the T-shirts of students passing through the halls at Welland Centennial Secondary School.

The school hosted the launch of National Students Against Impaired and Distracted Driving Day Tuesday, which celebrated its 10th anniversary of taking action and raising awareness.

A crumpled car, airbags deployed, sits near the school’s outdoor sign with the same message across it.

For more of the article check out this link