NEW CCS OFFICES PAGE A7
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
telefest illustrated PAGE A10
VOL. 100 NO. 53
salvation army soldiers on PAGE A13
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DISTRACTED DRIVERS
Stronger message needed AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter
Uplifting entertainment The Watoto message of rescuing, raising and rebuilding African children in a safe, family environment was delivered loud and clear Friday evening with a free, celebratory Watoto choir concert. For more photos see PAGE A3. Karen Powell photo
Please join us at the
Annual Awards Gala Saturday, April 5
Quesnel Seniors’ Centre Cocktails 5:15 pm Dinner 6:00 pm
Tickets $50 each
You can pick up tickets at Carvers Clothing Co, Sun Life Financial, or by calling Cathy at 747-1739 or emailing qcf@shaw.ca.
What’s worse than yapping on your cell while driving? Eating a bowl of cereal, while talking on your phone, while driving. And that’s exactly what one multitasking driver in the Gold Pan City was observed doing during the Northern Brain Injury Association’s Road Safety Survey. “The observation of the multidistractor eating, talking and driving was funny, but in a terrifying way,” NBIA representative Will Lewis said. “To say our observer was flabbergasted would be an understatement.” The NBIA conducted their research in seven communities: Terrace, Smithers, Burns Lake Mackenzie, McBride, Quesnel and Prince George. Each community had a two-person crew observing stationed sections for one-hour periods throughout the various times of the day. The teams then recorded driver, cyclist, small-wheel and pedestrian safety violations. In Quesnel a total of 6,838 vehicles, 36 cyclists, zero small wheels and 169 pedestrians were observed. Of this: • 2.84 per cent (194) vehicle operators drove while distracted and 4.03 percent (276) violated provincial road rules. • 36.1 per cent (13) of the cyclists observed rode without helmets, • 44.44 percent (16) rode on sidewalks, 5.5 per cent (two) rode against traffic and • zero per cent came to a complete stop at stop signs. • 14.2 per cent (24) of pedestrians crossed streets illegally and 4.14 per cent (seven) improperly used sidewalks.
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Safety concerns broken down by the day: • Driving: morning, 168, midday, 147, late afternoon, 155. • Cycling: morning, two, midday, 21, late afternoon, 11. • Pedestrians: morning, four, midday, three, late afternoon, 21. “Quesnel was not the worst for distracted drivers, simply more of them were observed during the survey,” Lewis said. ”It is important to note that the survey was not scientific in any way and was done by people in their own communities.” Lewis said the survey proved useful in a number of ways and highlighted the need for further education and prevention. “The survey also uncovered the need for a strong message for people to take extra care as the day goes on, for their risk of being injured increases by the hour,” he said. “It also strengthened our resolve to work with local governments and safety related agencies to conduct a larger, much more controlled survey in order to get a far clearer picture of the risks the public takes, and how best to respond.” The NBIA was founded in 2002 in response to the lack of services available for survivors of brain injury, and their families, in northern British Columbia. It was incorporated as a society in 2007, and became a registered charity in 2009. Today, the Northern Brain Injury Association board of directors have given it a mission to provide four core services; prevention, education, support and referral. It is gratefully funded primarily by grants from the Gaming Branch of province of British Columbia, the United Way of Northern B.C., and the Northern Health Authority.
2013 Quesnel Volunteer Citizen of the Year
AWARDS DINNER April 22th, 2014 at the
ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION Reserve your tickets now by calling 250-991-7477