I recently received some very interesting and timely information from Mr.Pat Cantner , the City of Vernon’s 
Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator as well as their Emergency Program Coordinator. I thought I would pass some of the information on to you as it is definitely relevant to the types of potential problems we all face this time of year. Severe winter weather is something that can occur in spite of not having a lengthy history for these types of events. A variety of things can occur as a result of severe winter weather systems including vehicle crashes, slips and falls on sidewalks and driveways, hypothermia and frostbite, falls from heights associated to removing snow from roof tops, and exhaustion and cardiac problems associated to over-exertion. The majority of these types of situations can be avoided by using extra care and common sense. From time to time we can experience power outages as a result of a serious weather event but fortunately these outages last for short periods of time. There is always the potential that loss of power could last for a day or more so the best way of dealing with the problem is to be prepared in advance. Things like flashlights, electric lanterns and candles should be available. If candles are being used extra caution must be exercised. Always keep an extra supply of heating fuel for wood burning stoves or fireplaces. If you are looking at purchasing a home electric generator ensure it meets the manufacturers’ specifications for the furnace, appliances or lighting that you intend on operating with the unit. Ensure the generator is operated in a well ventilated area and avoid connecting the unit directly to your house wiring without an approved transfer switch and approval by an electrical inspector. Should the power go out do not worry as your home will stay warm for several hours. Avoid opening exterior doors, and stay warm by dressing in layers. Activate your alternate heating source before your home becomes too cold and If the heat is out for an extended period of time, turn on a single tap slightly as this will prevent your pipes from freezing. For more information there are several web sites that you may find useful:
Emergency Preparedness: www.pep.bc.caEnvironment Canada: www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.caPower Outage preparedness: www.bchydro.comTravel information: www.drivebc.caIf you have any particular concerns or questions you feel would make an interesting article please make contact with me, Terry Pakenham, at my fax line 260-5866, or my direct office line at 260-5276.
With the pending holiday season we must be extra vigilant over how we go about our daily activities. Often I see items in vehicles parked at various locations throughout our community including major parking lots and streets. These 
items range from groceries to expensive electronics but they are easily observed through the vehicle’s windows. As a result our thefts from vehicle offences typically increase this time of the year. It is suggested that you place all items in the trunk of your vehicle or if you do not have a trunk under a blanket or on the floor of your vehicle.Avoid carrying large amounts of cash when you go shopping. It is also strongly suggested that you not carry a purse as they are very hard to defend against. Backpacks and fanny packs are both good alternatives. After all the festivities are over and you are recycling all the cardboard packaging be careful how you place these items in your recycling bags. Do not advertise to everyone all the things you received as gifts by having their packaging facing the outside of the transparent recycling bag. Line the bag with the Christmas wrap first then place the packaging inside. This will prevent passers-by from seeing everything you received as gifts and perhaps targeting your home when you are away. If out for the evening leave the lights on and the TV or radio. You should give the impression that someone is at home. Ensure your walkways and driveways are shoveled even if you are gone for an extended period of time. Be careful of those coming to your door canvassing for a charity. Most charitable organizations have their canvassers carry identification. Ask intelligent questions as to who they represent and who will be receiving the donations. If in doubt ask for written material regarding the charity or an envelope that you can send in should you decide to support this particular charity. Some canvassers use high pressure tactics in order to receive donations. You should be very cautious about these types of people and obtain as much information about who they represent as possible. Remember, your first line of defense is your locked door. Never open your door to anyone you do not recognize. You can have conversations through a locked door. If you have any particular concerns or questions you feel would make an interesting article please make contact with me, Terry Pakenham, at my fax line 260-5866, or my direct office line at 260-5276.
Our community has experienced significant growth in both population and development over the last decade and this growth has been very beneficial for the majority of the members of our community. Costs of housing and property have increased dramatically which has benefited many who 
are in a position to sell homes or property but has had a negative impact on those that are trying to secure adequate housing which matches their income. This has resulted in a lack of affordable housing which has now become a critical social issue. Information gathered from the 2001 census indicates that 40% of our population spend in excess of 30% of their income on rental housing costs and that there is presently a 1% rental vacancy rate. This translates into individuals having difficulty to not only obtain housing but more difficulty affording the associated costs.This lack of affordable housing or the inability to meet the financial demands attached to an increasing housing market has resulted in us seeing an increase in other social issues surface including poverty and homelessness. Unfortunately these types of problems often impact the most vulnerable in our community including seniors. There is another generation of the working poor whose income is being used to meet basic housing needs leaving very little at the end of the month for healthy food, clothing, and child care.We are also seeing a large number of our youth leaving this community for higher paying jobs and more affordable housing. The City of Vernon has recognized the critical situation this community faces and has resulted in an Affordable Housing Advisory Committee being created by Mayor Lippert and Council. Other organizations such as the Social Planning Council and the Partners for a Safe and Healthy Community also have recognized the need to develop an Affordable Housing strategy which will give us all a better understanding of this community problem and develop initiatives designed to offset the impact. Possible partnerships and funding source are being explored at this time. As time goes on I am hopeful you will hear more about the issues surrounding affordable housing and strategies that are being developed. If you have any particular concerns or questions you feel would make an interesting article please make contact with me, Terry Pakenham, at my fax line 260-5866, or my direct office line at 260-5276
As I have mentioned in previous articles there is a significant difference between the fear of crime and actual 
incidents of crime. Often fear of crime can have more of an impact on a community that the actual crimes themselves. A typical reaction to the fear of crime is that members of a community will avoid certain locations that they perceive as unsafe. The unfortunate by-product of this is actually creating more of an unsafe area because there is a lack of public surveillance. Perception can become reality unless steps are taken to create a safer environment for members of the public to visit, walk through, or observe as they move from one area to another.I applaud the efforts of the Downtown Vernon Association and their security auditor for looking at removing dumpsters from some of the alley ways, to increase quality lighting, and to examine methods of deterring graffiti and expedite its removal. These are all positive steps towards creating the perception that areas are safer and thus promote their use by our community. These are also things that the Safe Communities Unit has been advocating for many years and it is refreshing to see others are now starting to take up the cause. One thing we cannot afford to do is believe that these steps are going to resolve many of the problems that this community faces today. Until we begin to start understanding those issues that cause crime and develop long term strategic methods of dealing with them we will continue to move problems from area to area and community to community without any resolution. Communities have to take ownership of issues of poverty, homelessness, lack of affordable housing, substance use and abuse, violence against women, mental illness and a significant lack of alternatives that many people find themselves faced with. We often get into the “blame game” assuming that certain groups that have been tasked with creating a safe place are not doing their jobs. We fail to realize that this must be a shared responsibility with each one of us, who has a vested interest in our community, becoming involved in the solutions. These are complex issues that require complex solutions and it is for this very reason that it is easier to discuss the crime itself than understand and address those factors which caused it. To simply wish a problem to go away or move it to another location accomplishes very little. If you have any particular concerns or questions you feel would make an interesting article please make contact with me, Terry Pakenham, at my fax line 260-5866, or my direct office line at 260-5276.
Not unlike many other frauds and scams those involving investments appear to be on the increase. Given this trend it is important for those that are either involved in investments or are considering becoming involved to follow some very important steps.Ensure that what is being offered as an investment is indeed just that and not some scheme designed to create profit for just those offering the opportunity. Be extremely cautious of those “get rich quick” schemes such as guaranteed high return with no risks. The experts all agree that there is no such thing and that the higher the return there is usually a higher risk. Unfortunately these types of offers are accompanied by high pressure sales that typically try and reduce the time for you to make good decisions.Be cautious of the sales pitches that include you as the “select few” who are being provided with the skills and knowledge of making huge profits. The person offering you this opportunity often indicates this is a special deal and that a secret market is involved. Again, according to the experts there is no secret prime market and any indication there is should be treated as a red flag. Another aspect of investment fraud that has increased is affinities fraud where an individual targets specific religious, ethnic, or cultural groups and gains the confidence of the group itself. Once entrenched these people begin to take advantage of the friendships they establish and use the trust they build to convince other people and their friends to participate in various lucrative investment opportunities. Unfortunately these investment opportunities can be bogus resulting in significant loss of money with no opportunity for recovery.According to the BC Securities Commission before investing you should know your investment goals, what your risk tolerances are and the limits of your investment knowledge. You should also know all aspects of the investment opportunity including the expected return, risk and liquidity. Perhaps even more important you should know your investment advisor. For further information I would suggest you visit the BC Securities Commission website at www.bcsc.bc.ca. Another excellent web site for this type of information is: www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/scams/investment_fraud_e.htm. If you have any particular concerns or questions you feel would make an interesting article please make contact with me, Terry Pakenham, at my fax line 260-5866, or my direct office line at 260-5276.
Judging from the recent drop in temperature in our area winter weather cannot be that far away. Now is the time for many of us to start contemplating getting our vehicles ready for the conditions that present themselves in the months ahead.
Take a look at those snow tires and ensure that there is 
ample tread left for another season. We all seem to wait until the first snow fall before we get them changed over. Just talk to any of the local tire shops and they can tell you that the first snow fall is usually chaos for them and the police will also tell you this is always a peak time for crashes. We all know it’s going to snow, we just don’t know when. Why wait until the last minute before you start preparing for the inevitable winter conditions. If you are getting your vehicle serviced have them check the exhaust system and brakes at the same time. Many vehicle service centres have a multi-point inspection program as part of their winterizing service so consider this as an option when talking in your vehicle. The condition of your windshield and the wipers are very important as well. If either need replacing now is the time to get it done. Visibility during the winter months is always an issue so don’t compound the problem with poor wipers and a damaged windshield. Don’t forget the windshield washer anti-freeze as well.Give yourselves some extra time in the mornings in order to make sure all your vehicle’s windows are clear of snow and frost and plan on driving a bit slower than normal due to the uncertainty of the road conditions particularly at intersections after a fresh snow fall. If you have any particular concerns or questions you feel would make an interesting article please make contact with me, Terry Pakenham, at my fax line 260-5866, or my direct office line at 260-5276.
Halloween is fast approaching and with this day comes inherent safety risks and concerns. As a result of past experiences the local Detachment will be out in full force accompanied by volunteers within the Citizens on Patrol group as well as the Auxiliary RCMP contingent. In the past 
the police have received complaints of vandalism, assaults, thefts, and unlawful possession of fireworks on Halloween with many of the participants being between the ages of 12-18 but the police also advise that the frequency of these incidents seem to be declining from year to year. When preparing your children for Halloween it is important that you keep several things in mind especially if you are considering making or purchasing a costume. If a mask is being worn ensure that the eye holes are large enough that their entire field of vision is not impaired. For this very reason more and more parents are going to face paint. The costume should be large enough to allow warm clothing to be worn underneath and not so cumbersome in shape or length that it will limit their ability to move easily. Also the costume should be very bright in color or equipped with reflective material that will allow them to be easily seen by motorists. We are also seeing more and more youngsters carrying flashlights. Educate your trick or treaters to be very careful when crossing streets. They often forget some very basic traffic safety rules due to the excitement Halloween can bring. Motorists also become distracted with the volume and activity of pedestrians. Strike up an agreement with your children that they will not eat any of their collected candy before they return home and have someone go through it thoroughly. Anything that looks suspicious should be discarded and should something be found you should contact the police. Encourage your children and friends to stay in areas they are familiar with such as your own neighborhood. Finally, if at all possible parents or older siblings should be accompanying smaller children as they go door to door. This creates a much safer environment and peace of mind for all. If you have any particular concerns or questions you feel would make an interesting article please make contact with me, Terry Pakenham, at my fax line 260-5866, or my direct office line at 260-5276.
October 01 through to October 31 has been identified as Zero Crash Month by ICBC and both Vernon and Coldstream will be participating in this worthwhile program to reduce motor vehicle crashes in our communities.Participation in Zero Crash Month is open to anyone. Just log onto the 
Official ICBC Website at www.zerocrashmonth.icbc.com and register your support. Drivers also have the chance of winning a brand new, fully loaded 2007 GM Pontiac Torrent as well as many other prizes. Most crashes within our communities occur at intersections. As you approach a signalized intersection and the “Don’t Walk” sign is either lit or flashing this is a good indicator that the traffic light is going to change. Go through a yellow light only if it is unsafe to stop quickly and please avoid accelerating in order to make it through a yellow light. Often times motorists will accelerate rapidly once their light turns green. It is a good idea to take a slight pause before entering the intersection just in case someone jumps the red light. T-bone crashes at intersections usually result in significant injury and they could have been prevented if motorists used more caution.Many of our intersections are controlled through the use of stop signs particularly in the residential neighborhoods. Often these intersections are partially obscured by overgrown foliage or vehicles parked close to the intersection. Avoiding crashes at these intersections is just a matter of taking more time before entering them. Come to a complete stop then slowly enter the intersection until you are sure it can be traveled in complete safety. If you notice an intersection where the signs are obscured by overgrown foliage you are asked to make contact with the City of Vernon or the District of Coldstream so that the situation can be remedied. When turning left at an intersection you must yield to oncoming traffic and any pedestrians occupying the crosswalk. Make sure that you have activated your turn signal and avoid the habit of turning your front wheels until you can safely make the turn. This will prevent you from being forced into oncoming traffic if you are struck from the rear. Avoid making quick lane changes. First signal, check your rear-view mirrors, then make a shoulder check. This procedure allows those vehicles behind you to get ample notice of your intention to change lanes and gives you the opportunity to check your blind spots.If you have any particular concerns or questions you feel would make an interesting article please make contact with me, Terry Pakenham, at my fax line 260-5866, or my direct office line at 260-5276.
October 01 through to October 31 has been identified as Zero Crash Month by ICBC and both Vernon and Coldstream 
will be participating in this worthwhile program to reduce motor vehicle crashes in our communities Participation in Zero Crash Month is open to anyone. Just log onto the Official ICBC Website at www.zerocrashmonth.icbc.com and register your support. Drivers also have the chance of winning a brand new, fully loaded 2007 GM Pontiac Torrent as well as many other prizes.According to statistics gathered by ICBC over the last 5 years Vernon averages 277 crashes during the month of October. The top 5 locations for crashes in Vernon are:
1. 27th Str. and 43Ave.
2. 27th Str. and 48th Ave.
3. 25th Ave. and 32Str.
4. 27th Str. and 30th Ave.
5. 30th Ave. and 32nd Str.
For the district of Coldstream the top 5 crash locations are:
Aberdeen Rd. and Buchanan Rd. and Hwy6
Kalamalka Rd. and McClounie Rd.
Coldstream Creek Rd. and Kalamalka Rd.
Husband Rd. and Mariposa Pl. and Sunflower Pl.
Kidston Rd. and Torrent Dr.
Also, according to ICBC the 3 main contributing factors to crashes in our communities are alcohol, following to close, and speed. Knowing this information is very helpful in giving the motoring pubic locations where they have to use extra caution and each one of the contributing factors can be easily prevented if we take on our individual responsibility not to be part of the problem.When following another vehicle it is suggested that you leave lots of room. If you are following too close it becomes almost impossible to stop in time should the vehicle in front of you stops quickly. For most city driving you should be leaving at least two or three car lengths between you and the vehicle in front of you. If you are stopping behind another vehicle leave about a car length between the two of you. This allows a cushion should you be struck from the rear.Vehicle maintenance is just as important as defensive driving habits. A vehicle that is poorly maintained may not be able to stop quickly or may handle in a dangerous manner. Worn tires, cracked windshields, defective headlights and turn signals can all contribute to creating opportunities for crashes. If you have any particular concerns or questions you feel would make an interesting article please make contact with me, Terry Pakenham, at my fax line 260-5866, or my direct office line at 260-5276.
October 01 through to October 31 has been identified as Zero Crash Month by ICBC and both Vernon and Coldstream will be participating in this worthwhile program to reduce motor vehicle crashes in our communities. Participation in 
Zero Crash Month is open to anyone. Just log onto the Official ICBC Website at www.zerocrashmonth.icbc.com and register your support. Drivers also have the chance of winning a brand new, fully loaded 2007 GM Pontiac Torrent as well as many other prizes.One of the main contributing factors to crashes locally is aggressive driving. Some drivers operate their vehicles in a manner which becomes dangerous for others. Making rapid lane changes without signaling, speeding, tailgating, passing other vehicles where prohibited, and jumping yellow and red lights, are all symptoms of aggressive driving. This behavior can be as a result of poor time management where drivers find themselves late for appointments, dropping children off at school, or just poor driving habits. Be realistic about your travel and plan for the unexpected delays we can experience through weather, construction and traffic. If you find yourself running late, accept it without trying to make up lost time through aggressive, and often times, dangerous driving.If you find yourself being exposed to an aggressive driver through horn honking and hand gestures try and not react by lowering yourself to their level of poor behavior. If you are being tailgated then simply pull over safely and allow them to pass. Give aggressive drivers a wide birth as they often involve innocent parties in their crashes. Take an extra second before entering controlled intersections just in case someone jumps the red light or stop sign. Try to maintain the posted speed when traveling our local streets and highways, providing it can be done in safety. If you are nervous about driving on some of the busier streets then plan alternate quieter routes that do not put you in the heavy traffic. Consider using alternate transportation such as our transit system or taxi. You may find the peace of mind worth the expense. If you have any particular concerns or questions you feel would make an interesting article please make contact with me, Terry Pakenham, at my fax line 260-5866, or my direct office line at 260-5276.
Beginning Oct. 01 through to Oct. 31 the City of Vernon, the Vernon RCMP, and the City of Vernon RCMP Safe Communities Unit, and its many volunteers, will be participating in the annual Zero Crash Month as sponsored by ICBC. This project is a great opportunity for our community to help reduce the number of crashes we experience during this time period and as a result hopefully prevent the consequences that accompany these types of incidents. Over the next 5 weeks you can expect to see many of our volunteers located in areas where we have experienced high crash rates operating speed reader boards and using road signs to spread the word of Zero Crash Month. I will also be including driving tips in my weekly article covering those things we know contribute to crashes.Participation in Zero Crash Month is open to anyone. Just log onto the Official ICBC Website at www.zerocrashmonth.icbc.com and register your support. Drivers also have the chance of winning a brand new, fully loaded 2007 GM Pontiac Torrent as well as many other prizes. During the 2005 event, operating during the same time period, our volunteers donated 99 hours and checked 24,211 vehicles. As 60% of all crashes in our area occur at intersections their efforts were spent at or near these specific locations. We will continue with these efforts for this year. Issues of speeding, aggressive driving, and impairment remain to be the major factors in over 80% of crashes in the Southern Interior. In most cases these incidents are preventable. I encourage you all to participate in this year’s Zero Crash Month and do your part in reducing the number of crashes we experience in our community. If you have any particular concerns or questions you feel would make an interesting article please make contact with me, Terry Pakenham, at my fax line 260-5866, or my direct office line at 260-5276.
ARTICLE WRITTEN BY TERRY PAKENHAM POSTED WITH PERMISSION: (Originally published in the Vernon Daily Courier)
Crystal methamphetamine, commonly referred to on the street as meth, speed, glass, ice, shards, jib, crank, peanut butter, or chicken is an extremely potent and significantly dangerous central nervous system stimulant that is principally produced in makeshift labs. Its popularity has increased dramatically in both Canada and the US in the last decade to a point where some communities described it as an epidemic. The reason for the dramatic increase in use is meth’s highly addictive properties and the ease by which it is produced. There are many instances where first-time users become hopelessly addicted and continue to use in order to avoid the inevitable and extremely unpleasant crash as the drug wears off. The labs where methamphetamine is produced are not typically sophisticated and have been known to be set up in vans and campers as well as storage units, vacant buildings, apartments, and houses. One thing does remain constant and that is the danger the lab presents to not only the producers but also the surrounding neighbors and property. The processing of meth uses highly explosive and flammable products and the by-products can be very volatile. We are beginning to see the sale and use of methamphetamine within our community and this has prompted several groups to come together to develop both an awareness / educational component as well as an enforcement component. Recently funding has been obtained and has resulted in the formation of the Crystal Meth Prevention and Awareness Project. Through partnerships between North Okanagan Youth and Family Services, Whitevalley Community Resource Centre, First Nations Friendship Centre and the Vernon Boys and Girls Club we will begin the process of educating each other and then taking this information into the communities. No community is immune to the use of methamphetamine and the potential consequences can be devastating to not only the users but also to their friends and families. An entire community can suffer from the use and abuse of this potent and dangerous drug. Having in place a plan like the Crystal Meth Prevention and Awareness Project truly puts us one step ahead and congratulations must be extended to those who had the energy and vision to bring the people and plan together.If you have any particular concerns or questions you feel would make an interesting article please make contact with me, Terry Pakenham, at my fax line 260-5866, or my direct office line at 260-5276
ARTICLE WRITTEN BY TERRY PAKENHAM POSTED WITH PERMISSION: (Originally published in the Vernon Daily Courier) Since the beginning of July 2006 ICBC and the RCMP have been gathering information pertaining to the number of motor vehicle offences occurring at identified intersections in Vernon. These intersections were identified due to the high number of motor vehicle crashes they were experiencing and data was required in order to determine what situations were occurring that created crash opportunities. Volunteers within the City of Vernon RCMP Safe Communities Unit collected information over a period of 3 days observing and recording certain driving infractions that could lead to crash opportunities at the identified intersections. They spent 2 hours each day during peak periods of traffic flow and were paying particular attention to vehicles running yellow lights, vehicles turning right on red lights without stopping, and vehicles running red lights. During their time they observed 851 separate incidents where vehicles ran yellow lights, 168 separate incidents where vehicles did not stop before turning right on a red light, and 53 separate incidents where vehicles ran red lights. From this information ICBC began a campaign of awareness and education while the RCMP launched a campaign of education and enforcement and during the month of July several projects were undertaken in Vernon. This will likely continue during the month of August as well with the intention to decrease the frequency of motor vehicle crashes caused by driving errors.The three intersections identified are 27Str. and 48Ave., 32Str. and 43Ave., and 25Ave. and 32Str. To most drivers in Vernon these locations will not be a surprise that they have high crash rates and have drawn the attention of both ICBC and the RCMP. In a recent discussion with the Sergeant in charge of the local highway patrol unit the police are not going to be limiting their enforcement and education to just these 3 intersections.
Things we can all do to keep from becoming involved in crashes at any controlled intersection include:
· slow down our speed before entering the intersection
· stop at a red light before making a right turn
· don’t run the yellow advanced arrow or light
· don’t run red lights
· don’t speed up in order to make the light at an intersection
· take an extra second or two looking both directions before we enter an intersection on a green light
· don’t follow too close
· give ourselves some extra time to go somewhere particularly during peak traffic periods
· seek alternate routes and avoid the congestion
If you have any particular concerns or questions you feel would make an interesting article please make contact with me, Terry Pakenham, at my fax line 260-5866, or my direct office line at 260-5276.
ARTICLE WRITTEN BY TERRY PAKENHAM POSTED WITH PERMISSION: (Originally published in the Vernon Daily Courier)
As I mentioned in last week’s article operators of motorized wheelchairs and scooters are to be treated as pedestrians and have the responsibility of complying with all the rules associated to pedestrians.The other categories of transportation that have recently gained much popularity are motor assisted cycles and limited speed motorcycles. A motor assisted cycle is a cycle, either two or three wheels, that has a seat, pedals and electric motor. They do not require registration, license plates, insurance or a driver’s license for the operator. The operator must be 16 years of age or older, must wear a bicycle helmet, and must operate the cycle on the roadway. The motor must be electric with a rating of 500 watts or less and cannot propel the cycle at a speed greater than 32km/hr. on level ground. The regulations governing their operation are the same as that for bicycles and rules of the road are exactly the same. The next grouping is commonly referred to as limited speed motorcycles and would include the “pocket” bikes or miniature motorcycles and scooters. A limited speed motorcycle is defined as having no more than a 50cc displacement or 1.5kw motor rating, does not require the use of a clutch or a gear shift, it has a maximum speed of 70km/h on level ground, it weighs no more that 95kg, and the wheels are more than 25.4cm in diameter. The regulations dictate that the operator must have the limited speed motorcycle registered and insured and that the driver must possess a valid driver’s license of any class. At this time the use of motorized skateboards and the human transporter, referred to as the Segway, is not allowed on any sidewalks adjacent to roadways nor on any public roads in the Province of BC. Regardless of whether you are operating a limited speed motorcycle, a motor assisted cycle, or a motorized wheelchair or are sharing the use of our local sidewalks, streets, or avenues we must all understand that common courtesy and obeying the rules of the road will go a long way in preventing problems with the various user groups.If you have any particular concerns or questions you feel would make an interesting article please make contact with me, Terry Pakenham, at my fax line 260-5866, or my direct office line at 260-5276.-----------------------------------------------------------Scooter In Hit & Run by Wayne Moore - Story: 20718July 29, 2006 / 9:57 am http://www.castanet.net/edition/news-story-20718-1-.htm#20718Kelowna RCMP are on the lookout for the driver of an older model white Honda following a hit and run Saturday morning at Pandosy and Queensway. Witnesses say the vehicle with a lone male inside cut the corner while attempting a right turn onto Pandosy. He clipped a motorized scooter that was already well into the intersection. An elderly male riding the scooter was transported to Kelowna General Hospital complaining of a sore arm. If you have any information, you're asked to contact Kelowna RCMP.
ARTICLE WRITTEN BY TERRY PAKENHAM POSTED WITH PERMISSION: (Originally published in the Vernon Daily Courier)
While recently hosting a workshop one of the participants raised a question regarding the legalities of operating a cell phone while driving a vehicle. At present neither the Province of BC nor the Government of Canada have banned the use of cell phones while driving a motor vehicle. However, there is existing legislation under the BC Motor Vehicle Act which does cover driving without due care and attention or dangerous driving. There is also some doubt, as a result of research both in Canada and the US, that specifically identifies cell phone use as a causal factor in motor vehicle crashes. Logic, on the other hand does indicate that any distraction while driving has the potential of contributing to crash rates and cell phone use can be a clear distraction for some, if not all drivers if they are used in an unsafe and irresponsible manner. Unfortunately we cannot legislate common sense and as a result rely on existing and future cell phone users to be mindful that, given the right set of circumstances, there is potential that crashes can occur when cell phones are being used. Most major insurance and safety groups have included tips on responsible cell phone use as part of their road safety messages. Web sites such as the Canada Safety Council (www.safety-coucil.org), Canadian Wireless telecommunications Association (www.focusondriving.ca), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (www.nhtsa.gov), Transport Canada (www.tc.gc.ca), and ICBC (www.icbc.com), all have interesting and helpful tips on the safe use of cell phones while operating vehicles. The use of cell phones has increased dramatically over the last decade and even more so in the last 5 years with a large percentage being people under the age of 25. With this increased use of cell phones in this particular age group we now have the unfortunate mix of driving inexperience with potential distractions cell phones can cause. Safe operations of a cell phone can become as simple as pulling over when either making or receiving a call or investing in a hands-free model. It’s the simple and common sense things that can make the difference. If you have any particular concerns or questions you feel would make an interesting article please make contact with me, Terry Pakenham, at my fax line 260-5866, or my direct office line at 260-5276.
Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator as well as their Emergency Program Coordinator. I thought I would pass some of the information on to you as it is definitely relevant to the types of potential problems we all face this time of year. Severe winter weather is something that can occur in spite of not having a lengthy history for these types of events. A variety of things can occur as a result of severe winter weather systems including vehicle crashes, slips and falls on sidewalks and driveways, hypothermia and frostbite, falls from heights associated to removing snow from roof tops, and exhaustion and cardiac problems associated to over-exertion. The majority of these types of situations can be avoided by using extra care and common sense. From time to time we can experience power outages as a result of a serious weather event but fortunately these outages last for short periods of time. There is always the potential that loss of power could last for a day or more so the best way of dealing with the problem is to be prepared in advance. Things like flashlights, electric lanterns and candles should be available. If candles are being used extra caution must be exercised. Always keep an extra supply of heating fuel for wood burning stoves or fireplaces. If you are looking at purchasing a home electric generator ensure it meets the manufacturers’ specifications for the furnace, appliances or lighting that you intend on operating with the unit. Ensure the generator is operated in a well ventilated area and avoid connecting the unit directly to your house wiring without an approved transfer switch and approval by an electrical inspector. Should the power go out do not worry as your home will stay warm for several hours. Avoid opening exterior doors, and stay warm by dressing in layers. Activate your alternate heating source before your home becomes too cold and If the heat is out for an extended period of time, turn on a single tap slightly as this will prevent your pipes from freezing. For more information there are several web sites that you may find useful:
