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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, April 17, 2014 | 8 Texting is the biggest culprit behind distracted driving dangers continued from p.1 It involved the efforts of six Georgetown DHS drama and cosmetology students. Also appearing were Halton police officers and paramedics and Halton Hills firefighters. Police say enforcement blitzes and messages to the public through media haven't stemmed the tide of people being stopped and ticketed in Halton for distracted driving. In fact, local figures for the provincial offence have skyrocketed despite a recent increase in the fine for distracted driving and current talk of increasing that fine and possibly adding three driver's licence demerit points. The fine amount for distracted driving increased from $155 to $280 in March. "Since the inception of the Distracted Driving law in 2009, the use of cellphones and telecommunication devices is rampant," said Halton police media Sgt. Chantal Corner. In 2013, Halton police issued 4,905 Provincial Offence Notices for distracted driving. From January to March, 2,155 distracted driving charges have been laid by Halton police, compared to 895 during the same period last year -- a whopping 140 per cent increase. "It is not so much the people who talk on the phone, it is the texting as drivers keep the phone in their lap to keep it hidden, which means their eyes are off the road," said Corner. "One look at a text message takes a driver's eyes off the road for five seconds -- a long time, especially when one is travelling at high speeds." Milton/Halton Hills police Supt. Chris Perkins said approximately 2,450 traffic accidents occurred in the region in January and February of this year with one-quarter of them rearend collisions. He said it indicates a degree of distraction by drivers. "We as a police organization are continually striving to educate rather than enforce," said Perkins. Corner said Halton police will continue more enforcement of the issue. "... drivers are still not getting it.... It is a habit that people can't or won't break... perhaps until it's too late. A tough lesson to learn... as the video so greatly depicts," she said. The distracted driving video is airing on TVCogeco leading up to Canada Road Safety Week (May 13-19). It is also playing on monitors in the lobby of Halton's police stations. The video can be viewed at http:// goo.gl/0oYfml, on YouTube at www. youtube.com/watch?v=J4xTl635nT4 and on the police website. -- with files from Lisa Tallyn, Georgetown Independent Free Press Halton.ca 311 Please contact us as soon as possible if you have any accessibility needs at Halton Region events or meetings. Good Friday Household Waste Collection Notice Due to the Good Friday holiday on April 18, Friday's household waste collection in Oakville collection areas 5, 6, 7 and 8 will take place on Saturday, April 19, 2014. There is no change to household waste collection the week of April 21, 2014. Please place your waste at the curb by 7 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. Oakville Find your waste collection day visit Halton.ca/wastecalendar Sign up Sign up for weekly email, Twitter or phone call waste collection reminders. Download your waste collection calendar to your personal iCal, Google calendar or Microsoft Outlook calendar. Print your own collection calendar. Download Blue Box Items for GreenCart Items for Garbage Items for Print Halton Waste Management Site will be closed Friday, April18, 2014 Regular Operating Hours Open Monday to Saturday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 5400 Regional Road 25, Milton 170414 Special Waste Drop-off Days Begin April 26 On Saturday, April 26, Halton Region will hold a Special Waste Drop-off Day to help make the recycling and safe disposal of household hazardous waste and electronic waste more convenient for residents. The event will run from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Robert C. Austin Operations Centre located at 11620 Trafalgar Road, Georgetown. Residents who are unable to attend this event may drop off acceptable household hazardous waste (20 L max.) and electronic items free of charge at the Halton Waste Management Site, 5400 Regional Road 25, Milton, or attend one of six other Drop-off Days being held in the coming months throughout the Region. Visit Halton.ca/dropoff for details. Halton Regional Meeting Schedule Apr. 29 9:30 a.m. Health & Social Services Cmte. Apr. 30 9:30 a.m. Planning & Public Works Cmte. Apr. 30 1:30 p.m. Admin & Finance Cmte. Gary Carr Regional Chair Meetings can be viewed at halton.ca/meetings 1151 Bronte Rd., Oakville L6M 3L1