RIDE CAMPAIGN LAYS MORE DRUG CHARGES

While the number of drunk drivers threatening the safety of York
Region motorists is on the decline, a new, equally troubling trend has
appeared.

"Narcotic-related charges are up substantially," York Regional Police
Staff-Sgt. Tom Carrique said.

As of Dec. 15, nearly double in fact.

There has not been an alcohol-related fatality in the region since the
end of November, just days after the launch of the holiday RIDE
campaign, Staff-Sgt. Carrique said.

Throughout the year, police have laid 54 alcohol-related charges,
compared to 103 narcotic-related charges.

And more than halfway through the holiday RIDE campaign, 38 motorists
have been charged with narcotic-related offences, up from 21 during
the same time period last year.

Two York officers received specialized drug recognition training
earlier this year.

"It could be that officers are better trained to detect narcotics. But
you take that away and whether it's 21 people or 38 people, it's
unacceptable," he said.

Meanwhile, drivers failing to adjust for the inclement weather have
been a factor in the four fatal collisions on York roads this month.

The latest resulted in the death of a 57-year-old Toronto man in a
two-car collision in Vaughan last Friday morning.

"Four fatal collisions in one month is a lot. Any time you have a
fatal collision, it's too much," Staff-Sgt. Carrique said.

There have been 41 fatal collisions on York Region roads so far this
year, compared to 29 last year and 49 in 2002.

The number of minor collisions climbed to 734 as of Dec. 15 compared
to 560 for the same time period last year.

There were 204 collisions resulting in injuries last December,
compared to 116 so far this month.

Road conditions are never a factor in traffic collisions. Rather, it's
a matter of whether motorists are travelling an appropriate speed for
conditions, Staff-Sgt. Carrique said.

"It's our hope that drivers will adjust to weather conditions over the
winter months. (Drivers) have been trained to deal with it. They have
to drive accordingly."