2012 Shorty Awards

Well, the Shorty Awards are upon us once again. I love these awards as they really point towards the best that Twitter has to offer.

Last year, @TrafficServices was a finalist for the Nokia Connecting People category which was won by the amazing Shannon Miller. For me, just to be nominated was incredible...to be a finalist, that was more than I could have imagined.

This year, @TrafficServices has been nominated again, this time in the category, #LifeSavingHero presented by The Weather Channel. WOW!! Nominated again. I give a huge thanks for the nomination. But, me...a life saving hero? Not a chance.

You see, my job with this account is to communicate traffic safety and raise the awareness of the importance of traffic safety in our everyday lives. I sit at a computer for the most part and share information through social media to do that. I type, watch videos, read articles, interpret research and pass the info I see along. Not really a tough job and the biggest risk I face are paper cuts, headaches and vision problems. I go to community meetings and share my passion for traffic safety and try to get people to buy into the importance that traffic safety plays in the lives of each and everyone of us.

But call me a life saving hero? I can't in good conscience live up to that moniker. Here's why.
Looking at my industry of policing, there are men and women everyday who respond to the call for service by going places that they know are dangerous. They deal with people they know wish to do them harm. They investigate the worst that society has to offer and they are willing each and every time the walk out the door to sacrifice themselves to protect you and your family. Men and women who mine the Internet for pedophile's to save victims and prevent re-victimization.

They are life saving heroes.

When I think about life saving heroes, I have to also look at our military service men and women who have pledged their lives to protect us. Who walk into the theatre of battle to stand up for what is right, protect those that cannot protect themselves and to ensure we sleep well and safe at night. The bomb techs and bio-techs that inspect and neutralize bombs and hazardous substances meant to terrorize plague.

They are life saving heroes.

Life saving heroes can be found in hospitals and universities. Doctors that treat the critically injured. Stand for hours with their hands and minds inside bodies to repair damage done through trauma and disease. Researchers that are finding treatments and working towards cures that improve, extend and yes, save our lives.

They are life saving heroes.

Volunteers that at a moments notice, drop everything they are doing, leave their jobs and families behind to work in areas that are devastated by famine, natural disasters, man-made disasters and lands that are controlled to the point the poorest and most needy face death because they can't get water and food.

They are life saving heroes.

Pilots who land damaged planes with hundreds of people on board who are just trying to get back to their loved ones.

They are life saving heroes.

A cop that uses social media as pretty much the only part of his job? Nope...not a life saving hero, but incredibly grateful for what I get to do and humbled by your thoughts.

Like I said in the beginning, I love the Shorty Awards and I will definitely be casting my nominations for the people that I think are the best of the best and I hope you all do the same!  Find the awesome people in your social world and let them be seen for what they do!

This is the New Sheriff

So...a few people have asked who it is that will be taking over the accounts?
Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or this blog and the next generation of social media that the Toronto Police choose to use...or more correctly, the ones that you tell us by your presence, which ones we should use.

There really was only one logical choice all along.  He was my partner for more than a year, so I knew he had the understanding of not only what I was doing on the social streams, but he gets how traffic works.  Those two were important.  He's made many suggestions for what I should say and post.  (Usually when I wanted to say something really bold.  He would talk me off the ledge and make a much better suggestions).

Everyone in the media is accustomed to him so it won't be a shock or a learning curve for you either.

Ladies and gentlemen please give a really warm welcome to Police Constable Hugh Smith!!

Surprise!!! Why go looking for someone when the best is right beside you.

Hugh will have some help though.  With the training that has been happening within the Toronto Police Service, Traffic Services has some people trained in the use of the tools.  More Tweeters are coming and help with this blog and the fan page are just around the corner.

But for now...please say "Hi" and give Hugh a BIG warm welcome...(I've changed the settings so he will get everyone of these so let him know you are looking forward to his tweets).   I'm off for a week (my therapy session for letting this go) so he won't be able to yell at me. LOL!!

There will be an adjustment period.  Hugh will do a great job.  Give him a little time and a little patience.

So, I'm moving full time to the @TorontoPolice account on Twitter and the Facebook Fan page there as well.

I will be more active on my personal account, but there still wont be anything Toronto Police related. Some traffic safety information and general police info will get in there but it's by no means a police account.

In closing...Thanks for the memories!

There's a New Sheriff in Town

How do I start this post...I knew this day would come.  In fact, I've been planing it out for the last few months. 


"And now, the end is near, 
And so I face the final curtain.
My friends, I'll say it clear; I'll state my case of which I'm certain."


On January 15, 2009 at 12:33pm I activated my first Traffic Services social media platform; Twitter account @TrafficServices.  After that, I created pages, groups, profiles, channels, identities and this blog.


The reason?  To "Reduce collisions, injuries and death in Toronto".  I was trying to raise the awareness of traffic safety issues that could lead to better respect for road users with each other.  I was hoping that the information I could share would help our Toronto road users understand each other's perspective a little better. I wanted the public to be more aware of the laws, enforcement practices, decisions that would make each individual road user safer.


So a few thousand tweets, some videos, posts, updates, links, later...I am at the final curtain. (There has always been a music tone to my interactions...I'm not going to stop now!)


I have pushed a simple statement everywhere I could, "Road safety is every one's responsibility...and it starts with you."  And while I've pushed that, an incredible thing happened.  You pulled it in, shared it, pushed questions back and we formed some great relationships through all this social media 'stuff'.


I can honestly say, I've learned more from you than you learned from me!


Through it all, you built a "traffic brand".  Some of you know I  left Traffic Services a few months back to work out of the Toronto Police Headquarters Unit of Corporate Communications, but I have continued to populate the Traffic Services information streams.


I figured when the day came I would be leaving traffic, I would just change the name on my accounts and take them with me.  But, after seeing what you have done and how you have interacted and talked about traffic, shared our safety principals, I couldn't just take that away.  These are all your accounts...not mine.


"Regrets? I've had a few,
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption. "


When I made mistakes you forgave me.  When I got too busy with all my other duties, you were patient.


So, in return for your loyalty and dedication, I will leave you in great hands! 


A replacement has been identified and trained.  My replacement has been told about many of you and how important you are to what has been created.  I could never turn over the passwords over to just anyone...which is in part why it took a few months for this day to officially come.  It had to be the right person.


In a couple of days, you will all know, but for now, just know, you will be in great hands.


I have to thank a few people and I do this at the risk of not thanking everyone that should be mentioned.  Please don't be offended if you aren't thanked.  Know that you are all thought very highly of and my replacement has a list of key people and organizations that have helped so much.


@TVGurl - What can I say to the person who started it all?  I am in your debt for what you did for me!
@AmberMac - Hey Coach!! Your patience was incredible and your teachings so valuable.
@KrisReyes - All the key people to tied me into launched my understanding of the "government" end of this.
@Unmarketing - Your friendly slaps upside my head when you saw what others didn't were very appreciated.
@DeputySloly - You planted the seed to try new things, be courageous and to take the Toronto Police Service where it had never been.
@ChristaMMiller / @Cops2Point0 - The first law enforcement resource I found.  Your direction helped so much.
@808Cop_Retired - You sir are class...pure class! 
@GaryV - Thanks for your time in Toronto.  It's not over! The best is yet to come and the standing offer is always there, so let me know and we'll meet at our usual location ;)
@MrsMeaghanGray - Thanks for your guidance, level minded approach and understanding to learn all about this. By the way, "I've been thinking about trying something" No, seriously, I am...not kidding. See you after my holidays, we'll talk!


Every boss and supervisor that I have worked for and with over the last three years.  Huge thanks!!


Every person that took the time to say 'Hi', ask a question, point out some great information, like a post, favourite a video, share...There would be nothing without all of you - THANK YOU ALL!


Most importantly...@CarrieBurrows and the "3Bs".  You put up with so much.  You let me run with this and never complained about the trips away, the late night computer glow, the phone calls or the interviews.  I will never be able to return to you everything you sacrificed...but it's going to be great trying!!

"For what is a man what has he got

If not himself then he has not
To say the things he truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows
And did it..."
YOUR WAY!!

"THERE'S A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN"

Watch for the introduction of the new face coming soon!!

Oh, by the way...this isn't the end, I'm just moving over fully to the Toronto Police streams.

Born to Ride....Victoriously

Well, I figure I better continue about day 3 and 4 at the Great Lakes Police Motorcycle Competition to follow up the last blog post.

Day 3 was more of the basics.

Look and steer where you want to go.  I still found myself every once and a while looking at the obstacles that I was trying to avoid and sure enough I would hit them. 

When riding a motorcycle or a bicycle, driving a car or even just while walking, you need to look where you want to go.  In my time a s a police officer working traffic I used to be amazed when I would roll up on a collision scene where a single motor vehicle hit a pole or a tree or even a parked car.  To the right or left of the collision scene would be wide open space, but the vehicle would hit the only object around.

The reason is pretty obvious.  The operator was looking directly at the object even though that is what they were trying to avoid.  In some ways, this is natural.  The object represents the threat and therefore we fixate on it.  Turn your eyes to the open space and steer towards the space...not the object.

When you walk through a door way, you don't look at the jams on each side...you look and walk through the open space.

Back to the training seminar....When I would use the proper riding principals, brake, steer, accelerate, shift gears, look, use proper seating position all to their optimum I never had a problem.

By the end of day three, I was feeling confident and ready to compete the next day!

Day 4.

Fantastic!!! I went into the competition hoping to be competitive and ride to the best of my ability.  I gave up a few years ago when I left the motor unit of ever challenging for top riding honours.

Looking at the cone...guess what I hit

I took all the basics and put them together at the right time to be competitive.  If it wasn't for using the basics and reminding myself, "Do the simple things right", I might have had a bad day, but because I focused on the basics, I actually came off looking like I knew what I was doing.

Most importantly, the team of five Toronto Police Officer that attended the event all concentrated on the basics and we won the Team Competition.  Here is the break down of it all.

For the published version of the following article, click here.
(From the Toronto Police Web Story)

Born to Ride...Victoriously
Motorcycle riding is a skill you never lose – just as long as you’re up to speed with the latest training techniques.


The Toronto Police Service proved just that, as their five-member team, all of whom no longer perform regular bike duties, captured the individual and team titles at the recent Great Lakes Police Motorcycle Training Seminar in Cambridge, Ontario.

A total of 70 riders, from police services across the continent, took part in the four-day event designed to challenge officers on various theoretical and practical information and to improve their riding skills.

The training courses mirror real-life events and obstacles that police motorcycle officers could be faced with on the job.

For the second time in the event’s 13-year history, S/Sgt Andy Norrie won the individual award. He was also second in the challenge ride, third in the slow ride and fourth in the smart-ride competitions.

“I am pleased to achieve an individual award, but I am more thrilled that the TPS contingent won first place in the team event,” he said.

“This achievement continues to demonstrate that the TPS is a world leader in policing and the vital role that teamwork plays in our success.”

The rest of the team was made up of Sgts. Tim Burrows and Don White, Const. Pekka Jokiniemi and Auxiliary officer Mark Webber.

Jokiniemi, who works out of the Transit Patrol Unit, won the expert division non-fairing skills competition while Burrows came out on top in the challenge and partner-ride events. He also came in second in the last rider standing contest and fourth and fifth in smart and slow-ride competitions.

White finished fourth in the challenge ride and fifth in the fairing skills (expert division) competition.

For a complete run down of how all the competitors did, click this link


For more on the event there are some great YouTube vids...use 2011 GLPMTS or GLPMTS as your search term.

Expert Motorcycle Riding Begins with the Basics

Back when I was a motor officer for Traffic Services, I and many of my colleagues would participate in training seminars as often as we could to hone our skills, learn new tactics and enjoy the camaraderie of spending time with other motorcycle officers from around North America.

I've never won an overall competition award, but I have won many individual awards for skills, slow riding, partner riding and blind course challenges.  I have been an instructor for the Toronto Police and a signing authority with the Ministry of Transportation, so I can walk with a little swagger when I attend these events...but I don't.

This year's Great Lakes Police Motorcycle Training Seminar reminds me why, even with a lot of experience and hardware under my belt, a motorcycle is machine that will remind you very quickly who is in charge.

Day 1.
First time on the motorcycle since my spring re-qualification to operate a Toronto Police Motorcycle.  I broke into my usual pre-competition routine.  Bike inspection: fluids, cables, connectors, equipment, signals, lights, air pressures, tire condition.  That resulted in some adjustments and repairs.  Then a stationary brake test, not much good trying to go if you can't stop! Start it up and roll on to about 20k, then another brake test.  Go again to about 50k and a threshold brake test, with a collision avoidance move.  Now I was sure that I had a good safe ride; now warm ups.
I like to do circles, tight ones! Left and right, warm up the steering head and get used to leaning the bike over.

Ready to go, ride over to the skills courses and shut the bike down.  Time for a little walking.  I like to walk the track to see the course of travel and visualize the lines I need to travel to ensure getting through a sea of cones without hitting any.

Back on the bike, start it up and head to the first exercise.  I chose a simple four turn patter, easy enough build my confidence and get ready for the rest.  Through the entry gates and position myself for the first turn. I adjusted my speed, set my line and absolutely hit every cone possible!!
I made a big mistake!! I looked at the pylons.  Even with all my experience, I made a big mistake by looking at the obstacle I wanted to avoid.
Bike - 1 : Me - 0

Safety Tip: Where your eyes go, you go.  Look where you want to go and steer there.

Once I had that reminder under my belt, I was ready to try again. (Thanks to the "cone crew" volunteers who were kind enough to re-set the pylons).

I had a couple hours of getting used to riding for gold again and felt way better! Enter cocky and confident...not good on a motorcycle.

I was halfway through a tough course and was getting aggressive to really turn the bike on a dime.  (Uhm, 800 pound motorcycles don't turn on dimes).  I cranked the handle bars, started the turn and put in a little back brake.  Enter physics and gravity.  The loss of my momentum coupled with the turn steering added up to a loss of balance.  I slammed my size 12 foot into the ground to pop the bike back upright, gave the motor a little more gas to work with, got off the brake and felt the initial shock travel from my foot, through my leg, into my spine and finishing in my neck.  800 pound motorcycles also don't pop back up by a foot slamming into the ground.
Bike - 2: Me - 0

Safety Tip: When riding a motorcycle or bicycle you can't eliminate momentum while turning tight other wise Sir Isaac Newton will stop to say hello.

Well, all of that behind me and my ego in check again I was ready to ride.  So into the the course that I have been having great rides in all day.  Time to go fast!!

I got into the exercise and got a little off my choice of riding line so to make up for it, I had to turn hard, power through the turn and then brake hard to set up for the next turn.  Can  you see it coming?

That's right sports fans...harsh on the controls and trying to utilize multiple inputs at the same time.  Hello sea of cones and more work for the cone crew.  I was not smooth.  I was anything but smooth and I (the cones) paid for it.
Bike - 3: Me - 0

Safety Tip: Smooth inputs are always required.  Smooth is fast, sloppy is slow.  If you are using too much of any one input (steering, braking or accelerator) you are using up the availability of the others.

The rest of the day went really good.  Cobwebs gone, rust shaken off and reminders that if I am not in control of the bike, it's in control of the results.I felt really good, once I went back to the basics.

Tips:
Always inspect your equipment
Test your brakes
Warm up
Look and steer where you want to go
Maintain power to the rear wheel
Balanced inputs are smooth
Smooth is control

Day 2
Same start with inspection, testing and warm ups.

Into the cones.

Using everything that I had reminded myself of yesterday, I had a great day of riding the cones.

First competition: Last rider standing

This is a chess game.  Two riders line up on the outside of a large circle that has obstacles in it (hockey pucks, hard rubber balls and small pylons).  The idea is to force the other rider to hit an obstacle or ride out of bounds.  Essentially, plan your route not to hit anything and cause your opponent to hit something by planning their route for them.

It combines every skill you can think of. Steering, slow riding, quick acceleration, sudden stops and route planning.



That was a recap of the first two days from my perspective.

If you want to get your own look at it, head down the 401 to Conestoga College in Kitchener.  (Exit at Homer Watson Blvd, go north and take the first right.  You'll see it on your right hand side.

Click this link and you can see the schedule and all the events.

Distracted Driving - Reporting

Ever since the law was created in Ontario that made it an offence for drivers of motor vehicles to use a hand held electronic device, phone or view a screen not associated to the navigation of the motor vehicle, the Toronto Police have reminded people regularly to avoid using any device that may cause a distraction.

On a daily basis we hear about people driving and talking o the phone. The Toronto Police have been very aggressive in both the messaging of the dangers of this action and in charging people who we see doing it. (To date in 2011 we have charged 13,802 people under the distracted driving legislation…All of 2010 = 15,371)

For over a year, the Toronto Police have offered the community a way to report drivers they see endangering the public by their actions or behaviours in non-emergency situations.  There are two online forms that can be easily filled out and sent to the police. 

One details neighbourhood complaints where the community would like specific actions taken to deal with a problem.  For example:

• Speeding in a school zone;
• Failing to stop at a stop sign;
• Not yielding to pedestrians in a crossover;

Can all be addressed by the division for the concerned area.

The second form allows for the reporting a driver / vehicle in specific circumstances.  Examples of those offences may include:

• Driver on the phone;
• Vehicles weaving in and out of traffic;
• Speeding.

When we receive these reports, we review the nature of the complaint, notify a specific unit for action of the report and take the appropriate action. (Investigation, observation, education, enforcement.)

Often times the registered owner of the vehicle will be sent a letter describing the incident and asked to ensure anyone driving their vehicle adhere to all applicable laws according to the Highway Traffic Act, Municipal By-Laws or other statutes that may be referenced.

It is rare that we will lay charges under reported circumstances for various reasons, one of which is we often can’t identify the driver or people don’t wish to attend court as witnesses or the actions themselves don’t warrant the resources required to open a full investigation when a letter can serve the purpose of educating and raising the awareness to possible offenders that their actions are seen by other than the police.

When circumstances include collisions, criminality or extreme situations of unsafe driving, resources would be dedicated to the investigation and pursuit of the appropriate charges.

The underlying message of all this is simple.  The device that is used is not the issue.  Whether it is talking on the phone, holding a music or entertainment device or watching a movie on a tablet, it’s the distraction that is the concerning issue.

Driving is filled with potential distractions, some we control easily (like not bringing a phone into the car) and ones that aren’t so controllable (visual issues like billboards).

The key for drivers is to remember that the priority when driving a motor vehicle is safety on the roads and the consideration of other road users.

Great drivers just drive, safely.

To report a distracted driver in a non-emergency situation use this link. 

To report a neighbourhood concern, use this link.

 

5 Tips to Help With Highway Closures

Unless you haven't paid any attention to the news, talk around town or overhead message boards you know that the Gardiner and DVP are closing tonight (yes actually tomorrow morning) at 2:00am.

This closure has nothing to do with catch basin cleaning, grass cutting, litter pick-up or paving and painting.  This closure has everything to do with a being charitable.

On Sunday June 5th many people will have chance to see the city in a new light and at a much different pace.  It's the, "Becel Heart and Stroke Ride for Heart"

Every year this event happens.  Every year we call the closure, all in the name of a good cause, and don't forget it really is!  Every year thousands of people contribute an insignificant amount of time and energy to create a very significant result.  Every year, those not taking part, not aware, not from Toronto are caught in a traffic nightmare!!

Every year we message the life out of telling people to avoid the area, don't drive if you don't have to, find alternate routes, use public transit, etc.  And every year, I watch the cameras and the traffic feeds to see that nothing is moving around the area of the closure!  What do expect....those two highways carry an incredible amount of traffic effectively and efficiently.  Don't believe me? Watch the news tomorrow night and see the traffic impact from this closure.

Here is the irony...tomorrow...I have to go downtown...I have to do what I tell people not to do and I have to use my personal vehicle.

Here is the tips I am going to follow to minimize the pain.

1.) Leave really early
You can't make up time on the road if you are stopped in grid locked traffic.  All that happens is you get mad and frustrated and that can lead to bigger problems.

2.) Plan your route
Don't drive anywhere near the closure area until you absolutely have to
Even though where I have to be can be considered in the eastern side of the downtown core near the lake, I will not be anywhere near the lake shore until the last point possible.  I will come 'down' through the city as opposed across the bottom.  A little out of my way, but the extra mileage will more than make up for the lost time.

3.) Closest alternate routes are not the best routes
Take the Gardiner closure for example.  Do you know how many people will be on Lakeshore Blvd, King Street, Queen Street The Queensway and Front Streets?  Pretty much everyone that can't get on the FGX.  So, think about the east west routes that are a little out of the way, but won't have nearly the traffic on them....St.Clair, Eglinton, Bloor.
DVP.  Don't use VicPark and Don Mills.  Use Yonge, McCowan.

4.) Be patient
It's going to be busy.  Accept it.  Don't be yelling at your steering wheel waving your arms like a seagull and holding your horn until it cacks out.  None of it works and quite frankly...you look weird.

5.) Transit
The same traffic nightmare that catches everyone else also catches buses and streetcars.  Think subway and GOTrain.