Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall
Weather forecast for Thursday, September 21, 2017
Today – Mainly sunny. Fog patches dissipating this morning. High 29. Humidex 37. UV index 6 or high.
Tonight – Partly cloudy. Low 19.
Wind company holding public meeting
North Kent Wind is holding a public meeting tonight, Thursday, September 21, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Pain Court. An update will be provided on their project construction and people will have the opportunity to speak with team members. Watch for more on this story.
Ontario cracking down on careless and distracted driving with tough new penalties
Ontario plans to crack down on careless and distracted driving with tough new rules and penalties that would help improve road safety and keep the most vulnerable road users – including pedestrians and cyclists – safe.
Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca and Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Eleanor McMahon, were in Toronto this week to announce the tough new road-safety measures.
They were joined by Han Dong, MPP for Trinity-Spadina.
The province plans to introduce new legislation this fall that, if passed, would help protect pedestrians and cyclists and reduce the number of people killed or injured by impaired, distracted and dangerous drivers. The proposed measures include:
– A new offence for careless driving causing death or bodily harm with penalties that include fines, licence suspension and imprisonment
– Tougher penalties for distracted driving, such as using a cellphone while operating a vehicle, including higher fines, more demerit points, and license suspensions
– Increased penalties for drivers who fail to yield for pedestrians and escalating fines for drivers who are convicted of multiple pedestrian-related offences within a five-year window
– Expanding the use of rear flashing blue lights for enforcement and emergency vehicles.
“Ontario is taking action to reduce the number of people killed by impaired, distracted and dangerous drivers,” Del Duca stated.
“These measures will help keep some of our most vulnerable road users safe and help us drive home the message that dangerous, impaired and distracted driving is unacceptable, and will not be tolerated.”
In addition, the province is consulting on the use of cameras on school buses that capture the offence of illegally passing a school bus, so that this evidence can be admitted into court without a witness.
For 16 years in a row, Ontario’s roads have been ranked either first or second safest in North America, but more can still be done.
These strong measures add to recently-announced tough new penalties for those who drive under the influence of drugs, including cannabis.
Keeping Ontario’s roads safe is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.
More details:
– On average, one person is killed on Ontario’s roads every 17 hours. In 2014, pedestrians and cyclists made up approximately 25 per cent of Ontario’s road fatalities.
– While drunk driving remains in the top-five killers on Ontario’s roads, the province’s most recent roadside survey found that drivers who tested positive for drugs were more than twice the number who tested positive for alcohol.
– The proposed legislation builds on existing measures Ontario has introduced to improve road safety including tougher impaired, distracted and street racing laws.
– In May Ontario passed legislation to protect the most vulnerable such as pedestrians and cyclists, by giving municipalities more tools to address speeding. These tools include the ability to set reduced default speed limits and use automated speed-enforcement systems on roads with speed limits below 80 km/h that are designated as community safety zones or in school zones.
– In June 2015, Ontario passed legislation to toughen penalties for offences such as distracted driving.
– The Ministry of Transportation hosted a road safety symposium in June with municipalities and many road safety partners to discuss a broad range of road safety concerns that helped shape the government’s proposed actions to help to save lives on Ontario’s roads.
Painting fundraising in Port Lambton
The Sombra Optimist Club will be hosting a ‘Paint Nite’ fundraiser on September 27 at the Port Lambton Community Hall.
This adult only evening will have an artist/instructor from PAINT NITE on hand to teach, step by step,
local ‘aspiring’ artists to paint a picture while you socialize with friends and neighbours in a relaxed
atmosphere.
No artistic ability is required.
All painting supplies will be provided.
A cash bar and snacks will be provided.
Tickets are $45 plus tax and can only be purchased through the PAINT NITE web site.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the class starting at 7 p.m.
For further information contact Carla Aarssen at 519-892-3536.
Photos of the day – Positivity at local schools
Positivity Day in CK https://t.co/WZzJli4srh. Thanks for coming and spreading the Positivity!!!! pic.twitter.com/iWuiUJ27wv
— Dresden Area Central (@DresdenAreaCS) 15 September 2017
Celebrating #PositivityDayinCK with Capt. Positive, Optiwoman and the best students ever! #LKDSB pic.twitter.com/C9mGVFKwzg
— H. W. Burgess PS (@hwburgessps) 15 September 2017
School enjoying captain Positivity @SEWchargers #PositivityDayinCK pic.twitter.com/KkXQeS6Vcz
— Clare Quinlan (@cqsew) 15 September 2017
Captain Positive and Optiwoman visited @DawnEuphemiaPS today. Stay kind, happy and positive friends pic.twitter.com/5lbW16a3Cp
— Bobbi C (@bobbiclark37) 15 September 2017
World news
Hurricane Maria regains major hurricane status
Puerto Rico is completely without power due to Hurricane Maria
Mexico gripped by ongoing bid to rescue girl from collapsed school
College student in Puerto Rico rescues birds after Hurricane Maria
Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott reportedly assaulted
Ugandans protest against presidential age limit removal
Irish pro-choice campaigners stage Handmaid’s Tale protest
Google makes a billion dollar deal with HTC
September snow to mark the last week of summer ❄️
If you have a suggestion, story idea, column idea, or if you want to say hello… drop me an e-mail at aaron@sydenhamcurrent.ca.
