Next month (18-19 November 2012) a provincial conference will be held in Toronto, Canada entitled ‘Counter Measures’ and will mark it’s ninteenth assembly committed to reducing the human carnage caused by impared driving. This year, the conference takes an international theme and is geared toward international perspectives bringing extra focus to the Decade of Action for Road Safety and the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
A Message from A.M. (Al) Reid – Arrive Alive
On behalf of arrive alive DRIVE SOBER® I take pleasure in inviting you to Ontario’s 19th Countermeasures Conference.
The bi-annual Countermeasures Conference is a provincial forum for experts and individuals committed to reducing the human carnage on our roads caused by impaired driving. International Perspectives was selected as the theme for this year’s conference to bring attention to the UN’s Global Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011-2020) and the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
Countermeasures XIX begins on the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. The Sunday afternoon activities will still include a General Meeting of arrive alive DRIVE SOBER and an open session for front-line police officers hosted by Ontario Provincial Police. To honour the special day, Sunday afternoon and evening will include activities and a reception to commemorate and remember those whose lives have been lost or forever changed by impaired driving.
On Monday, November 19th we will feature two plenary workshops focusing on drugs and driving, international efforts, and ways to reach youth. We will host four breakout opportunities for more intense discussion on areas concerning: toxicological and scientific aspects of the issue, off-road vehicles including e-bikes, the reinstatement process, and how the media can help out with the cause.
On behalf of the Planning Committee and the arrive alive DRIVE SOBER Board of Directors, we look forward to seeing you at the conference.
A.M. (Al) Reid – Arrive Alive
Youth Engaging Youth Workshop
On day two of the conference, YOURS will present to the conference on the progress made in the field of youth and road safety and combatting impaired driving across the world.
Impaired driving is the number one cause of death and injury for teens in Ontario. Globally, it is said that road crashes are the leading cause of death for young people from 10 – 24 years. The conference will find out what is being done here and around the world with updates from YOURS, OSAID, and Change the Conversation.
Anne Leonard, Exuctive Director of Arrive Alive told YOURS, “We want to gain insight into the international activities being carried out by YOURS – and to showcase our own work in a most meaningful way. Our conference aligns directly with the WDR, it seemed to be a great fit, and has facilitated the involvement of some higher profile road safety professionals.”
Conference content will include:
- UN Day of Remembrance for Drugs and Driving
- Road Traffic Victims Commemoration
- Reception and Formal dinner (Sunday)
- Awards Luncheon (Monday)
- International/Jurisdictional Strategies and Legislation
- Reinstatement for Impaired Drivers Media and Social Media
- Off Road Vehicles/Boating/E-bikes Young Drivers/Youth Engagement
This year the dates align directly with the WDR so the organizers have sculpted it to honour the day. Additionally the conference will have a young lady who co-wrote, performed in, and created in the first video in the right column about texting and driving. She is an aboriginal singer in northern Ontario (Thunder Bay).
More information about the event can be found here.