MTO proclaims Road Safety Challenge

TORONTO (May 1, 2000) Ð The Ontario government has proclaimed Ontario’s Road Safety Challenge, an education and awareness campaign that runs from April 30 to May 6. The fifth annual week-long event, co-ordinated by the Ministry of Transportation, brings together safety-conscious communities across the province in a concerted effort to make Ontario’s roads safer.

This year, there are 32 cities and towns joining in the battle against motor vehicle-related deaths and injuries.

For this year’s campaign, Ford’s Young Drivers of Canada is donating a Road Safety Challenge Van. The van, which is equipped with educational tools that help teach safe driving and the rules of the road, will be rotated through the Road Safety Challenge Communities for one year. The community groups will have an opportunity to showcase the van in their events to promote
road user safety.

MTO assists communities with a small grant and provides educational and awareness resources to promote their local campaigns. As part of the requirements for participation, teams are required to focus on three of five road safety themes: Aggressive Driving, Children’s Safety, Unsafe Driving, Impaired Driving or a community identified road safety theme.

At the end of the Challenge, awards will be presented to selected winning cities or towns for exceptional effort and unique local programming based on the MTO’s five road user safety themes and collision rates per capita during the week.

Road Safety Challenge 2000 Participating Communities

Thunder Bay
Milton
North Dundas
Manitouwadge
Oshawa
Brockville
Kenora
Belleville
Ignace
Peterborough
Dryden
Arnprior
Sault Ste. Marie
Ottawa-Carleton
Red Lake
Orillia
North Grenville
Ear Falls
London
Smiths Falls
Kitchener
Perth
Northern
Chatham
Woodstock
Sudbury
Cambridge
North Bay
Sarnia
Timiskaming
St. Thomas
Parry Sound
Windsor