Monday, May 6, 2002
For immediate release

Ottawa — The City of Ottawa kicked off a series of initiatives today to promote road safety. It’s all part of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s 7th annual Road Safety Challenge. The Challenge consists of a week-long series of events in which Ontario communities address specific problems in an effort to make roads safer for everyone. The City is taking part in partnership with several public and private sector organizations.

Motorists can expect to see police enforcement stepped up to address problems such as seat belt compliance, aggressive driving, and driving while impaired. Several areas of the city will see enforcement combined with awareness programs to get motorists to leave a safe distance between themselves and the car in front. This is an attempt to reduce rear-end collisions – the number one type of accident in Ottawa. Other activities will address bus safety for children, proper installation of car seats, and proper fitting of helmets.

Transportation and Transit Committee Chair Councillor Madeleine Meilleur reminded residents of this year’s campaign theme "take the time". She challenged everyone to think about what they can do to make the roads safer for everyone. "We need to take the time and make sure we get to our destinations safely," said Councillor Meilleur. "We need to make sure we put safety first, and that means making it our number one priority, every day."

Medical Officer of Health Doctor Robert Cushman also stressed the need for safety. "In our rush to enjoy everything that Ottawa has to offer over the summer months, we sometimes don't take the time to protect ourselves and our children when we take to the road," said Dr. Cushman. "Traffic accidents are a leading cause of preventable injury and death for all age groups."

In a creative contest sponsored by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) local high schools were challenged to create the best non-alcoholic drink. "I’m thrilled that today’s young people are leading the way with their efforts to find alternatives to drinking and driving," said Tim Georgeoff, President and CEO of CAA North & East Ontario. "Their contagious enthusiasm is inspirational and provides hope for the future of road safety in Ottawa."

Students from Bell, St. Mark’s, and Notre-Dame High Schools competed in the final round with the grand prize going to St. Mark’s for their concoction named Xtreme made of watermelon, strawberries, sugar, juice and crushed ice.

Ottawa is competing with other municipalities across the province to see which is the most successful in promoting road safety. "I’d be delighted if Ottawa were to win an award or two again this year," said Councillor Meilleur. "But, for me, what’s far more important is that this campaign challenges each and every one of us to compete with ourselves — to improve our own performance on the road. I’m confident that the citizens of Ottawa are up to this challenge."