Community Column by Don Butt (August 2016)

Town of Mono, ON (Don Butt) In June we put on our first Bicycle Rodeo and it went fairly well. With all the events happening this time of year, we would have liked a bigger crowd. We hope to run another one next year. Many thanks to Canadian Tire in Orangeville who donated prizes for the contestants and to Sylvia Jones’ Office who supplied the booklets on biking. We also received a wonderful bike helmet from Cycling Elements, a store here in town and we say many thanks for this too.


A new change in the Highway Traffic Act that we have not mentioned before is the Regulation concerning crosswalks. (I believe this includes any crosswalk that is in use on any roadway). When you stop at a crosswalk, you must wait until anyone using the cross-walk has reached the other side before proceeding. This is especially important at a school crossing.

Another change that has been in effect for some time, and we have covered before is the one concerning emergency vehicles (Fire, Police, Ambulances, and Tow trucks all fall in this category). If you approach these vehicles on the road or off to the side with their lights flashing you must slow down, approach with caution, and move over one lane on multi-lane roads or on two lane roads even into the opposite lane if it can be done safely. Too many emergency workers are injured or killed each year on the job, hence this valuable precaution .

One thing I would mention as a result of all the stories of home break-ins and thefts. Periodically , OPP safety officers hold public meetings to pass on tips on making your house safer. I have attended these and they are excellent. Contact your local OPP office to arrange a session in your neighbourhood.

Drive safely!!

Safety Tip
If the rear end of a car skids you should :
A. Steer opposite to the skid.
B.Steer in the direction you want the car to go.
C. Steer in the direction of the skid.

The correct answer is “B’ This makes vision more important than feel as the primary skid detection and recovery sense. (This tip comes to you from Doug Annett and the Skid Control School at Oakville, ON) www.skidcontrolschool.com

Phone Nos. (a list of valuable numbers to have)
For all emergencies – 911
To report non-emergency incidents or bad drivers 1-800-310-1122
Or by cell phone only *677

Road Watch
To report unsafe driving behaviour contact OPP Communications Centre:
*OPP (*677) on your Cell or
1-888-310-1122 on your Landline.
If you prefer a paper form, our forms are available at Mono Plaza and OPP at Primrose. Please use them, the life you may save could be your own or a loved one.

Don Butt is currently the Public Relations and Media Contact for the Mono Community Policing Committee. If you would like more information on anything covered in Don’s Column or would like to see a topic of public interest or safety covered;  contact him here.