The document summarizes the Road Watch volunteer program in Pickering and Ajax over the past 6 years. [1] It discusses how the program aims to reduce collisions and enforce road safety through public reporting of violations and speed board monitoring. [2] Key accomplishments include over 100 speed boards conducted, over 3,000 warning letters sent by police, and a reduction in collisions seen year over year. [3] Challenges include gauging the program's full impact and having a follow up process for complaints and speed board locations.

1. Road Watch 2011
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Presentation ‘s Objective
Share some key aspects of the “Road Watch” volunteer program
Share some accomplishments and results
Thank the Citizens of Pickering/Ajax, Pickering and Ajax Mayor and
Council as well as Durham Regional Police Services for their incredible
support !

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Our Mandate …..
…To reduce automotive collisions and fatalities through
awareness, education and enforcement of road safety...

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How a “Speed Board” is triggered
Public
Chief Of Police or Police
Municipal City/Town
Mayor or City Councilors
Any Committee Member

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 How violations are reported
 Public reporting of road violations
 Hard copy forms placed throughout the region in public places or stores (together with road
watch drop off boxes for completed hard copy forms)
 Committee members check & empty boxes on a regular basis
 Quick and easy form available on-line via the Internet – directly to Police Officer for the
region
 Road Watch via Speed boards
 Twice a month on average – except for the winter
 Record information of anyone speeding over 15 km over and review & send to police (make,
color, license plate, date and time)
 On occasion, we also ADD Police with Radar, after our speed board display handing out
speeding tickets

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How violations are handled (public complaint or road watch
pure volunteer program)
Confidentially by a designated Police Officer for the municipality
Check run through the Police Database comparing car
make/model/color and address
Check through the database for previous violations reported
through the Road Watch overall program
Determination of action (by the Police) to be taken next (letter,
phone call or visit)
Verification of all information by an Inspector
Validation of action to be taken

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 Pickering & Ajax our results (last 6 years 2005 – 2010)
 Total number of speed boards 110
 Total number of letters mailed by DRPS 3,037
 Total number of 2nd offenders 57
 Total number of 3rd offenders 09
 Besides speeding DRPS/Road Watch handled
 Drive in Careless Manner
 Disobey Stop sign
 Disobey Red Light
 Follow too Close
 Unsafe Lane Change
 Tailgating
 Road rage
 Fail to stop for School Bus
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 Year over year we are seeing a positive trend !

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Road Watch - About Us
Our Website – Is also part of the Durham Regional Police Services Website
www.ajaxpickeringroadwatch.com
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Standing Committee
Executive all volunteer members with elections
Formal monthly meeting with minutes (except for August of each year)
Volunteers, Pickering and Ajax town reps, Durham Regional Police Liaison Officer, some Council members as required
 support from town and various corporations
$$
Display booths at malls, advertising in local papers, attendance at parades and other town or city events
Street signs throughout the Durham region indicating road watch program with our logo
Road watch decals on Police Cruisers, City Buses and Fire Trucks
 “own” our own equipment (2 speed boards plus a radar gun, Jackets/Vests)
We

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Our Challenges
 Overall
 Hard to gauge our contribution to the overall positive trend we are seeing
 Vast majority of People are very supportive, but always want more done (e.g. traffic calming) and want us to attend more
frequently
 Large area and many streets to cover
 Rumor in some circles that people “speed up” just to trigger off the speed board (is just not true based on our experience)
 Road Watch Volunteer Program
Don’t have a “follow up/reply” process in place for those that sent in a complaint
Don’t have a “follow up/reply” process in place for the street(s) we covered with a speed board with the residents of that street
 Public Complaint Program
Use on-line complaint form more often and correctly record key information

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Our Successes:
Overall
Have contributed in slowing traffic down and improving overall traffic safety
Public Complaint Program
Increase year over year in registered complaints through on-line reporting
The Manitoba Government Insurance recognized us and invited us to speak at their conference and paid our expenses !
Road Watch Volunteer Program
Municipal offer of a rotating speed board for neighborhoods is now available.
Ajax/Pickering has become “the poster child” for new road watch type programs
Volunteers/Police/Town/City Reps are dedicated and have sustained the program
Opportunity for People to provide on-the-fly feedback in their neighborhood directly

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Future
Continue to focus on our mandate via boots on the street speed boards
Looking to have a winter speed board initiative
Participate in a school guard crossing program
Opportunities for safety synergy with M.A.D.D and Durham Health/DRPS Baby Car
Seat Inspections
Opportunity to perform “traffic assessments” at intersections and report results to
Durham Police for follow up and action
Learn from other similar programs/organizations and apply best practices to our
program

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Secrets to Our Success..
Dedicated and Passionate Committee Members
Solid Support (Mayor and Individual City Council members every single year and at
every opportunity)
Solid Support (Durham Regional Police – Equipment, Police Resources and Officers)
Community involvement and participation
Real opportunity to make a difference
Meet socially & have some fun when we can !

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