Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Commissioner Julian Fantino was interviewed on the radio during the drive in this morning. The law banning the use of electronic handheld devices while driving came into force one month ago. The OPP have issued over 1,100 warnings to drivers who have used an electronic device while driving. Twenty-two (22) citations have been issued to drivers who were flagrantly breaking other rules of the road while on the phone, texting or checking email. These included speeding, weaving in the lane, crossing the centre line, etc.
And these are just from the highways that the OPP patrol! In the greater Toronto area I have not seen a decrease in the use of these devices.
Have YOU gone hands-free?
Cindy Douglass, the Assistant Administrator and Chief Safety officer of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), addressed concerns about the organization during her keynote address to the Dangerous Goods Advisory Council (DGAC) annual conference, held this year in San Antonio, Texas.
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Transport Canada has posted on its website two (2) proposed interim orders that will cover the Vancouver Olympics. The first one is titled "Interim Order Respecting the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Into, Through or Within Controlled Access Zones". This proposed interim order, once approved by the Governor in Council would expire on March 4, 2010. The order sets boundaries which creates the access zones.
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In the US, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the Hazardous Material Transportation Safety Act of 2009. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has been under fire from the House for its "cozy" relationships with industry.
As a result of this approval, PHMSA will be required to conduct safety fitness tests of the applicant before issuing or re-issuing special permits. It also allows PHMSA to charge for the processing of the applications.
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Where were you 30 years ago this day?
It was a Saturday night when that train derailed sending the residents of Mississauga out of their homes. I know, our house was one of them.
I was a volunteer with St. John Ambulance then and we were called out at 06:30 on Remembrance Day. I was away from home for the duration helping to evacuate the hospital, nursing homes, old age homes and manning evacuation centres. One of the amazing things during that evacuation was that there was no instant communication like we have today, yet between the police, fire, ambulance and volunteer agencies, things got done.
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