Did Not Ask White Crosses Be
Removed

TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC WORKS--Did Not Ask White Crosses Be Removed

The Department of Transportation and Public Works has not requested that Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) remove any of its memorial crosses along public highways.

"We have been working together with the department on this issue and no such request has been made," said Geraldine Dedrick, president of the Halifax chapter of MADD. "We are very satisfied with the meetings so far and discussions with the department continue."

Said Don Downe, Minister of Transportation and Public Works: "We support the objectives, goals and spirit of MADD and have been working in partnership with them to get out the message against drunk driving. No white crosses are being taken down."

MADD and department staff have met twice and will meet again later this month to discuss the memorial marker program. MADD has volunteered to delay erecting any more white crosses until the joint committee has made its recommendations.

"Highway departments across the country have rejected this type of program because of safety concerns," said Mr. Downe. "In Nova Scotia, we are being proactive to support an approach that is designed to fight drinking and driving."

Highway safety is the department's No. 1 priority. There is a safety concern if several cars and pedestrians are gathered on the side of a 100-series high-speed highway for memorial ceremonies.

The Department of Transportation and Public Works is also concerned about the distraction an unfamiliar marker might cause drivers. Thirty per cent of Nova Scotia's 14,000 road accidents in 1996 was caused by driver inattention.

"We all have the same goal here -- to make Nova Scotia a safer place to drive," said Mr. Downe.