Media Release
March 26, 2009

A Road Awareness Safety Campaign “Look Twice – Save a Life” is aimed at making Canadian Roads Safer & Drivers more Aware, has been launched by a group of motorcyclists in the Greater Toronto Area. Avid motorcyclist Shaun de Jager started “Riders for Road Awareness” after a serious collision involving a SUV & Motorcycle, leaving both rider & passenger in serious condition on March 18th, 2009, in Mississauga Ontario.

The Riders for Road Awareness website www.roadawareness.ca has been launched as a private initiative to create awareness of road safety via awareness rally’s, special events, the media, and of course the internet. The RoadAwareness.ca website is managed by like-minded individuals and sponsored by companies with an interest in road safety in general. Lack of situational awareness on our roads puts us all at risk. We aim to educate all road users in an effort to make our streets safer for drivers, riders, cyclists & pedestrians alike.

RoadAwareness.ca covers road safety related topics across the board, ranging from driver/rider tips, list of training schools throughout Canada, as well as other safety concerns relating to other roads users, including pedestrians and cyclists.

This ongoing campaign aims to influence all vehicle operators to exercise maximum care and caution, to ensure that Canadian drivers become more aware of their surroundings, and focus on the task of operating their motor vehicle.

The campaign organizers have been hard at work and have made amazing progress in just one week. We look forward to work in partnership with key stakeholders within the transportation industry on this initiative. We now need motorists to heed the advice and drive responsibly.

“There is no excuse for paying anything less than 100 percent attention to the road and our surroundings.” -Shaun de Jager

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To view news releases and information, visit the “News & Events” section of our website at www.roadawareness.ca

For more information please email info@roadawareness.ca

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Motorcycle Awareness Rally held on Mar. 19th, 2009

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Mississauga News
By: Julia Le

March 19, 2009 10:42 PM – About 50 motorcyclists from across the Greater Toronto Area gathered for a rally tonight near the intersection of Hurontario St. and Eglinton Ave. – the scene of an horrific crash – to remind drivers to be cautious when sharing the road with motorcycles.

With their bikes lined between the road and the sidewalk, the bikers waved signs that read: “Look twice! Save a life!” The rally ran from 7:30-9 p.m.

Shaun de Jager, a Toronto motorcyclist who heard about the accident on an online social forum, said many members of the group are outraged by the accident and sorry for the motorcyclist and his passenger, who suffered serious injuries but are expected to live.

“Unfortunately we’ve all had close calls,” said de Jager, who organized the rally. “Riding a motorcycle does have its inherent dangers, but so does everything in life and these are risks that we take as cautiously as we can.”

Mississauga resident Majid Hashemi was at the nearby Second Cup when the crash occurred yesterday. He had just ben out on his motorcycle and the incident really hit home.

“It’s right by my house and this patch of pavement, I ride on it everyday.” said the 27-year-old, pointing to the spot where the crash happened.

Police are looking into the possibility that the driver of the SUV may have illegally entered the busy Mississauga intersection during rush-hour yesterday.

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The Mississauga News
By: Louie Rosella

March 19, 2009 12:20 PM – Police are looking into witness accounts that the driver of an SUV illegally entered a busy Mississauga intersection yesterday before crashing into a motorcycle, sending the driver and his passenger to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Peel Regional Police said today that the motorcyclist, 30, and his female passenger, 22, are expected to live following the rush-hour collision at Hurontario St. and Eglinton Ave.

Motorcyclists from across the GTA are outraged. Several will be at a rally tonight at the intersection because they believe there needs to be increased awareness among drivers of larger vehicles to be cautious sharing the road with motorcyclists. Police will also be at the rally.

“The weather is warming and more and more riders are on the roads. This tragic incident should be a reminder to all that cars share the roads with bikes and that we must all be aware of each other,” said Shaun de Jager, an avid motorcyclist who organized the rally. “There is no excuse for paying anything less than 100 per cent attention to the road and our surroundings.”

The motorcyclist was airlifted to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto after his Suzuki collided with a Honda CRV at about 5 p.m.

Peel Cst. J.P. Valade said the man’s condition has improved. He has serious leg injuries, but is expected to survive.

The passenger was initially taken to Credit Valley Hospital. She was also transferred to Sunnybrook. She, too, is expected to live.

The 62-year-old female driver of the SUV was not injured.

Officers with the Major Collision Bureau are investigating whether the woman entered the intersection improperly, believing she had an advanced green light to make a left turn.

The accident brought traffic to a halt, as police closed off a large area surrounding the intersection. Lane closures lasted well into the night.

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