I rise today to remind members of this honourable house that this week, December 1 to December 7, is National Safe Driving Week. National Safe Driving Week draws our attention to the need for safe driving all year round.

We must drive safely if we are to save lives, minimize injuries and repair costs and save money on insurance premiums. Accidents are more costly than ever. Claims for injuries and repairs are causing dramatic increases in insurance rates.

Our government is taking many initiatives to help make driving as safe and affordable as possible. We have a number of related bills now before this house.

Most drivers are responsible. But we all have lapses.

As drivers, we have to do all we can to ensure our vehicles are well maintained. And we have to concentrate on driving. There are too many activities which take our mind away from this demanding task. It is common to see drivers on cell phones, dogs roaming freely in moving vehicles, persons drinking beverages and eating food while driving, and drivers adjusting radios, stereos and CD players. We all have to make a determined effort to become better and more attentive drivers.

Government must do all it can to help inform and educate drivers and make our roads and regulations as conducive to safety as possible.

The actions we are taking in this house will help. We have given second reading to bills which call for a ban on the use of hand-held cell phones by drivers while driving, increased penalties for impaired driving, and vehicle seizure and impoundment.

I have also given notice that I intend to seek a variety of additional legislative amendments related to the operations of the insurance industry.

As well, we have given second reading to a bill which calls for the appointment of a consumer advocate to ensure public interests are properly represented at automobile insurance rate hearings before the Public Utilities Board.

We must continue to do all we can to make driving safer and reduce the cost of accidents and insurance premiums.

I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. I encourage members and all motorists to drive defensively, keep their hands on the wheel, their eyes on the road, and their minds on driving.

2002 12 05                                        1:55 p.m.