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It‘s simple: don‘t drink and drive : Don‘t drink and drive. It‘s a simple message that just isn‘t getting across. This, according to statistics released by the Ontario Provincial Police and the Halton Regional Police Serâ€" vice following the completion of their respective holiday RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaigns. Locally, more than 15,000 vehicles were checked at RIDE lanes across the region last month. Halton‘s finâ€" est made 31 impaired driving arrests and issued 46 threeâ€"day licence suspensions. The latter occurs when a driver blows a ‘warn‘ on an alcohol screening device, which indicates that his or her blood alceohol content is between 0.05 and 0.08. While the number of impaired driving arrests is down 45 per cent from the previous year, which saw 56 people arrested that month, the number of motorists driving dangerously close to the legal limit is on the rise. The number of threeâ€"day suspensions issued last month has more than doubled compared to Decemâ€" ber 2014 statistics issued by Halton police. Provincially, the numbers aren‘t much better. According to the OPP‘s 2015 Festive RIDE program results, 573 drivers were charged with impaired drivâ€" ingâ€"related offences and more than 350 motorists reâ€" ceived a roadside warning, which resulted in the temâ€" porary suspension of their driver‘s licence. We know the festive season is a time for celebration. We know family and friends gather, And we know that many enjoy a drink or two, while others have too many. Unfortunately, some show a complete disregard for the community‘s safety â€" and human life â€" by getâ€" ting behind the wheel under the influence of drugs and alcohol. This despite the known dangers associâ€" ated with such a perilous act. It‘s inconceivable that motorists â€" young and old â€" continue to carry themselves in such a careless way. What‘s it going to take to get this important message across? insidehaliton.com | MILTON CANADIAN CHAMPION | Thursday, January 7, 2016 | 6 S _ the first step is admitting you have a insidehaiton.com dr Â¥ * 555 Industrial Drive, Milton, Ont. L9T 5E 1 905â€"878â€"2341 Advertising Fax: 9058762364 Classified: 9058753300 Circulation: 905â€"878â€"594 7 www.miltoncanadianchampion.com VP â€" Group Publisher Nell Oliver Regional General Manager Kelly Montegue Director of Advertising Sharlene Thompson Acting Managing Editor Catherine O‘Hara Production Manager Manuel Garcia Orculation Director Charlene Hall Four generations of Kitchens pose in front of Martin Street Public School, where they were enrolled. They include Bruce and Norma, son Paul and his daughter Laurie and her son Hunter. Martin Street School is currently undergoing an expansion to better accommodate Milton students. Supplied photo The Champion invites readers to share their Around Town photos. Send yours to editor@miltonâ€" canadianchampion.com. Be sure to include a description of the photo, including the location where it was taken, and the name of the photographer. ied for. but thke tue # of the advertmement wl te peid st the apphcatio rate | rewerv @CCAB ccaB Audited [(OPC] Press Council Recognized for excellence by the rght to advertmement My View Learning the ABCs of mathematics ApH It‘s no secret that ically challenged â€" or at least none that ECXA math is not my I know of â€" I‘ve decided to take matters forte. into my own hands. i y Ask anyone who Instead of establishing a new year‘s resoâ€" has had the lution centered on diet and exercise, | reâ€" The Canadian Champion is pleasure of joinâ€" solve to improve my numeracy skills. It‘s a proud media sponsor for: ing me for dinâ€" a failproof resolution; there‘s no way they ner and they‘ll can get worse, right? t (*+* 42 tell you just how They say practice makes perfect. So, by . . " * * * * hingle Bell Fund horrible 1 am at avoiding the use of the calculator app on us LA Chkes P calculating perâ€" my smartphone and giving the good old .fi noddle a workout, I‘m sure | will succeed. Or at least, that‘s my hope. While a close friend has expressed confiâ€" dence in my resolve to reach my goal, he | also suggested | invest in a copy of the Baâ€" Yes, it is a sad state of affairs. sic Math Preâ€"Algebra for Dummies workâ€" My numeral incompetency is not someâ€" | book. And this week, I did just that. thing I‘m proud of. But as the saying goes, | Let the learning begin! Catherine O‘Hara can be reached at editor@ miltoncanadianchampion.com or on Twitâ€" ter @Milton_Champion The Mitcs Canadian Champine is a Recycable Poduct WB centages. They‘ll oP also add that, _ Catherine O‘Hara when caught off Acting Editor guard, | am liable to say that two plus two equals five, despite knowing the answer. problem. With no support group for the mathematâ€"