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Home My WebLink AboutWD-49-99 f' THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON Meeting: REPORT GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE File # ~5 DECEMBER 6, 1999 Res. #f?7J/t -?~ -1f Date: Report No.: WD-49-99 By-Law # Subject: ROAD WATCH PROGRESS REPORT 1999 Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report WD-49-99 be received for information. REPORT 1.0 ATTACHMENTS No.1: No.2: Correspondence dated November 15, 1999 from Durham Regional Police Correspondence dated November 23, 1999 from Clarington Road Watch Committee 2.0 BACKGROUND 2.1 On February 15, 1999, Clarington Council endorsed the Road Watch Program and approved funds in the amount of $5,000 to fund the initial purchase and installation of 50 Road Watch signs to promote the program. The program forms a partnership between the Community, Police and the Municipality. The operation of the program itself is a community initiative designed to improve road safety by creating greater awareness and giving residents an opportunity to participate in identifying and reporting dangerous driving. Clarington Road Watch also uses the local name ofC.A.R.S. (Clarington Awareness of Road Safety). 3.0 REVIEW AND COMMENT 3.1 As a direct result of the Municipality's contribution, matching funding was also received from the Ministry of Transportation's Community Road Safety Program. With this base 1 1 89 ? REPORT NO.: WD-49-99 PAGE 2 funding to launch the program, additional funds were obtained from a number of local businesses, including: . Van Hemmen Tire and Sales, Whitby . Durham Computer Systems, Newcastle . Ontario Power Generation (Darlington) . Blue Circle Cement, Bowmanville . Totten Sims Hubicki, Cobourg . Canadian Tire, Bowmanville 3.2 Confidential Drop Box locations were arranged at the following locations: . 7 -11, Bowmanville, King Street at Liberty Street . Armstrong I.G.A., Orono . Newcastle I.G.A., Newcastle . Beckers, Newcastle . Byam's General Store, Tyrone . Canadian Tire, Bowmanville . Coffee Time, Courtice, Highway No.2 at Courtice Road . Country Style, Newcastle, Highway No. 115 at Concession Road 3 . PVR Variety, Kendal . Enniskillen General Store, Enniskillen . M.C. Variety and Petro Canada, Mitchells Comers . Newtonville Convenience Store, Newtonville . Village Restaurant, Hampton . Durham Regional Police, Clarington Office, Bowmanville . Clarington Municipal Administrative Centre, Bowmanville . Courtice Community Complex, Courtice 3.3 The Program celebrated its official launch on June 23, 1999 at the Municipal Administrative Centre and was well attended by local politicians and media coverage. 11 90 , REPORT NO.: WD-49-99 PAGE 3 3.4 The computer system donated by Durham Computer Systems was placed at the Durham Regional Police Clarington Office. Volunteer members of the Committee perform data entry and letter preparation. The program, although new to Clarington, was implemented with few delays and is running well due to valuable experience gained from the Whitby and Caledon Road Watch Programs. Approximately 400 warning letters have been issued on Durham Regional Police letterhead in the ongoing effort to educate the public about safe driving practices. Less than 3% of the reported motorists have called back to police with any kind of denial or negative comments. 3.5 The Radar Message Board, with greater exposure through the Road Watch Program, was borrowed 19 times during 1999 with positive results from the residents. 3.6 Correspondence from both Durham Regional Police (Attachment No.1) and from the Clarington Road Watch Committee (Attachment No.2) show continued support of the program. 4.0 CONCLUSIONS 4.1 From the above, it is concluded that the $5000 contribution towards Road Watch signs, prior purchase of the Radar Message Board and staff time dedicated to this program, by the Municipality, was a sound investment in road safety. Continued success of the program should improve the quality of life in Clarington by providing greater awareness of road safety and assisting in the reduction of motor vehicle accidents. Respectfully submitted, Reviewed by, ~v'~ Stephen A. Vokes, P. Eng., Director of Public Works d~_~ Franklin Wu, Chief Administrative Officer RDB*SA V*ce 29/11/99 1 1 9 1 Durham Regional Police Service . K. McAlpine. Chief of Police · D. Denson. Deputy Chief. Administration · J. Adams. Deputy Chief. Operations November 15, 1999 Ron Baker Traffic Co-ordinator Public Works Department The Municipality of Clarington 40 Temperance Street Bowmanvil1e, Ontario LIC 3A6 Ron, 1 I Since the Kick off of the Clarington Road Watch Program on June 23, 1999, we have sent 407 letters to drivers discouraging their aggressive driving. Less then 3 % of these drivers have responded with any kind of denial or negative comments. It is my opinion the program is running well. Constable Greg Clark, the liaison officer to the Maintenance Committee has advised me that there are no problems other than routine administrative situations. The Clarington Roadwatch is an excellent program to reduce aggressive driving and will likely over a period of time assist in reducing accidents in this community. '~ ATTACHMENT NO.: 1 REPORT NO.: WD-49-99 DRP 3281 REV 1 2J98 77 Centre St. North, Oshawa. Onto L 1G 487 Oshawa (905) 579.1520 Toronto (905) 683-9100 Fax (905) 433.5053 Toll Free (905 - 705) 1-888-579-1520 W~b Site nW902ce.durham.on.ca Clarington Road Watch ROAD WATCH" 40 Temperance Street, Bowmanville, ON Lle 3A6 Phone: (905) 623.3379 Tuesday, November 23, 1999 Ron Baker Traffic Coordinator, Clarington Public Works & Municipality of Clarington Council 40 Temperance Street Bowmanville, ON LIC 3A6 Dear Ron Baker & Members ofClarington Council: Since the June 1999 kickoff, the Clarington Road Watch (CAR. S.) program has been very successful. Since the inception we have mailed approximately four hundred first offence and eight second offence letters. This is in comparison with the seven hundred complaints the Whitby Road Watch committee received in their first year. Employment of the Radar Message Board has been an asset in the operation of the program. Continued support of the Durham Regional Police, the Town ofClarington and the Clarington Works Department, contributes to making this program a success. The Durham Regional Police have assigned a liaison officer, Constable Greg Clark, to the committee for guidance. The Town ofClarington has given financial support, while the Works Department helps with the installation and maintenance of the Road Watch signs. Clarington will therefore benefit from this program by making our streets safer for everyone. Promised donations by the Newcastle & District Chamber of Commerce, of Five Hundred dollars now and One Thousand dollars later are forthcoming. Ontario Power Generation has also committed to future donations. We are presently putting together an advertising campaign similar to Crime Stoppers. Plans are to run the advertisements over the Christmas period through January and again in April and May. A strong working relationship exists among the ten very active members of the Road Watch Committee. In just more than five months the committee has volunteered a total of two hundred and sixty hours. ,.1/1 R.I. Radcliffe Chairman, CAR.S. _eJa ;r;'g";;n ONTAf110 The Clarington Healthy Communities Committee RR/ar A Member of the Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition 93 ATTACHMENT NO.: 2 REPORT NO.: WD-49-99