Newsletter

According to the media release authorized by Sgt. Todd McKinnon, Central Traffic Unit, more resources have been directed at traffic enforcement in a bid to make driving safer and reduce the annual death toll of around 30 people on the regions roads. The increased enforcement is largely because of the special enforcement unit, a mobile unit of officers able to respond to any location in Niagara where they are needed. One of the units mandates is to increase traffic enforcement. The Niagara Regional Police stopped 14,847 vehicles in 2007, more than double the amount from the previous year. Similarly, as noted in the comparison chart below, the number of roadside tests, 12-hour drivers licence suspensions and arrests for impaired driving also increased from the 2006 RIDE program as indicated below:

Police RIDE Statistics

In Niagara, regional police estimate one-third of all traffic fatalities are alcohol-related, but police are noticing a decline in drunk driving incidents corresponding with an increase in enforcement. Sgt. McKinnon indicated that the increased enforcement is only part of the job, and the NRP is continuing its Think and Drive public educationr campaign in order to continue to get the message across that drinking and driving is dangerous and it costs lives. Niagara Regional Police Chief Wendy Southall, together with Linda Beyer, Chair, Regional Niagara Road Safety\par Committee, will be co-presenting on the Think and Drive campaign at our BIAN conference on October 23, 2008. Check out their web site: http://www.thinkanddrive.net

OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino announced plans to expand the provincial RIDE program on a year-round, daily basis, in order to cut down on the casualties of drunk drivers. According to Fantino, provincial police RIDE checked 659,456 vehicles in 2007, and the number of 12-hour licence suspensions increased nearly 40 per cent over 2006. He further noted that of the 450 people killed on provincial highways patrolled by the OPP in 2007, 80 involved alcohol. The OPP arrested more than 1,000 impaired drivers on Ontario highways during its five-week holiday RIDE program. Source: Niagara Falls review/Osprey News Network.

BIAN wishes to thank the participating bars and clubs throughout the Niagara region, our partners, 5-0 Taxi, 4500 Taxi and Port Taxi. In addition, we wish to acknowledge the valued contribution of the Regional Municipality of Niagara Police Services Board; the radio public service announcements sponsored by Performance Cars, and MADD, in association with 105.7 fm EZ Rock, 97.7 HTZ-FM, and Newstalk 610 CKTB.

Santa's Sober Sleigh 2007 Campaign Breakdown & Location of Coupons Redeemed

Vouchers worth $4,350 were in circulation during this campaign, involving 31 bars/clubs

Calendar of Events

• Feb 7 - BIA Sarnia-Lampton's 4th Annual International Conference: Body Mind Spirit
  :Keynote: Aubrey Bissett
  Contact: Susan St. Pierre
  Phone: 519-337-5657

• Feb 19 to 22 - Neurorehabilitation: Assisting Recovery and Function in Everyday Life Following Brain Injury - Level One
  Location: Brock University, St. Catharines, ON
  Contact: Ruth Wilcock, OBIA at 905-641-8877 ext. 238 or email: rwilcock@obia.on.ca
  Registrations can be downloaded from: http://www.obia.on.ca/training.html

• Mar 28-29th - Rehabilitation for Children with ABI with Dr. Mark Ylvisaker (originally scheduled for November of 2007)
  Location: Holiday Inn, St. Catharines
  Contact: OBIA 905-64l-8877
  Note: If you had previously registered for the course which was cancelled in November, 2007, and would like to confirm your registration please email: obia@obia.on.ca ***If you have not previously registered for the course but would like to do so you can download a\par registration form from OBIA's website at http://www.obia.on.ca/training.html

• Mar 4-6 17th Annual Rotman Research Institute Conference: Neuroimaging in Dementia
  Contact: Paula Ferreira, Coordinator 4l6-785-2500 ext. 2363 or email: pferreira@baycrest.org
  Website: www.rotman-baycrest.on.ca

• May 7-9 Neuropsychological Assessments: Beyond Testing Level Two
  Location: Brock University, St. Catharines, ON
  Contact: Ruth Wilcock, OBIA at 905 641-8877 or email: rwilcock@obia.ca
  *This course is open only to those who have completed the Level One course

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