Pumpkinferno ready with 11 new exhibits

OPP are in the midst of a distracted driving campaign that includes public education and targeted enforcement.

Twelve distracted driving-related deaths have already been reported this year.

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. 

OPP collision data reveals that driver inattention was a causal factor in 12 of this year’s 51 fatal collisions to date. 

In five of the fatal incidents, it was the driver who was found to be driving inattentively who died.  

In two incidents, the driver who died did nothing wrong and was driving properly at the time of the collision.  

Three of the incidents involved a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle. 

Nine of the deceased were males, three were females and their ages range from 33 to 88 years old.

Locally, Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry (SD&G) OPP officers are focusing their efforts on curbing this dangerous habit on area roadways in the Untied Counties.

“Distracted driving is a danger to all road users. Fortunately, these same road users are in a position to help put a stop to it. We want to see everyone develop and maintain a complete intolerance for distracted driving and make it the socially unacceptable driving behaviour that it should be,” said Chief Superintendent Chuck Cox, Commander of the OPP Highway Safety Division.  

What can you do to help?

• Be mindful that distracted driving  poses a significant  threat to the well-being of your family and friends; 

• Start conversations about distracted driving with your family, your friends, your colleagues and shed the negative light on it that it deserves;  

• If you are in a vehicle being driven by someone who is driving while distracted, always speak up. Be firm and say: “Enough! Too many people are dying because of distracted driving.  It needs to stop and you need to stop”. Make this your new attitude every day. 

• If you see someone driving in a dangerous manner while driving distracted, call 9-1-1 to report them.

• Be self-disciplined every time you get behind the wheel; do not allow yourself to be distracted in any way while you are driving. 

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Following three generous donations to Meal on Wheels (headquartered in Morrisburg) on Wednesday, October 31, chair Glenn Beckstead said, “We are so appreciative of the support that has come from the community since our call for help went out.” The call for help involved the need for funding to purchase pricey insulated trays/tray liners and carry bags used in the delivery of meals. Meals on Wheels needed to replace some trays and increase the quantity to accommodates the program expansion in Iroquois which means meals are now available five days per week, up from the previous three days. Last Wednesday, Meals on Wheels received a $500 donation from Morrisburg Branch 48 of the Royal Canadian Legion (which tops up a previous $500 donation), a $1,000 donation from the Morrisburg and District Lions Club and a $400 donation from Robert Jordan Construction. Two weeks ago, the Iroquois/Matilda Lions dropped off a cheque for $1,000. Beckstead, said that in addition to the special projects (tray purchases and Iroquois expansion) the generous donations will help with the everyday expenses of purchasing containers and utensils needed by the program. “The donations will also help us to maintain the high quality of our meals which we are so proud of,” said Beckstead. In the photo top, Meals on Wheels vice chair Joyce Millard (centre left) and cook Ruth Doesburg accept the Legion donation from past president Maurice Praine (left) and Legion Poppy Chair Tom Fisher. Bottom, Millard is joined by cook Brenda Bradley to accept the donations from Morrisburg and District Lion Susan Hubert and Robert Jordan.

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Mark MacDonald and Jim McDonell have agreed to join The Social Development Council of Cornwall & area to raise awareness and get a taste first-hand what it feels like to make the impossible choice between rent and food every day by participating in Cornwall’s 2nd “do the math” challenge (DTM2)!

DTM2 is a five day challenge of surviving only on the contents of a food bank hamper where thousands of Ontarians participated throughout the year since last fall and came together to bring awareness around poverty and the existence of widespread food insecurity and chronic illness related to poor nutrition.

This year, the Social Development Council of Cornwall and area’s local “do the math” team will be launching its 2nd challenge on Wednesday September 28th, 2011 starting at 9 a.m. at the Agape Centre where the participants will start the challenge with an actual appointment with the food bank to pick up their challenge hamper.

“With last year’s overwhelming response and overall empowering experience, and with the support earlier this summer from Cornwall City Council’s municipal resolution to support the Put Food in the Budget’s call for the $100 per month Healthy Food Supplement, we felt it necessary to launch DTM2 again this fall,” says campaign leader Michelle Gratton.

The community is once again invited to participate in this five day long hands-on awareness piece with their friends and family.  

Followers and supporters will be able to support the participants, leave comments and hear about the entire experience by following along on the SDC’s Community Blog site at 4sdcblogging.wordpress.com.

Initially launched in August 2009, this campaign features an interactive website where visitors are asked to add up the monthly expenses they think necessary for a single person on social assistance.

This budgetary exercise vividly illustrates that, after housing, clothing and transportation, most people have no money left over for food and must rely on food banks and drop-in meals to survive.   

For more information on the campaign or to find out how you can participate, please contact the Social Development Council at 613.930.0211 or mgratton@sdccornwall.ca.

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