Turn anger into action

Bianca Leduc was killed as she helped put up Halloween decorations at a home daycare. Two cars collided at the corner of des Érables and Giffard Streets, with one running over the girl on the lawn. Two local teens, aged 17 and 18, face charges of criminal negligence causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. High speed has been cited in the case, which has yet to go to trial.

Whatever sentences the teens receive if convicted, it will not bring back the little girl. But her death must spark changes. For one thing, the lack of police presence off-island has been an issue ever since the province forced municipalities to drop their own police force in favour of the Sûreté Québec a few years ago. Even SQ officers acknowledged last week its force has not kept up with the growing off-island population. Since SQ officers began patrolling in Ile Perrot, many citizens say police presence has dropped so much that rowdy and aggressive young drivers are out of control. It's time for the SQ to do its part and make sure the province realizes there are shortcomings in staffing that need to be addressed. Its up to Quebec to make sure an adequate amount of funds is dispensed to this region.

The speed limit on the street where the little girl was killed is already posted at 30 kilometres an hour, so that's not an issue municipal officials can do much about. But the local council must continue to fight for better police services and more patrols. They can also do more to sensitize the public to the dangers of speeding and reckless habits behind the wheel, such as placing electronic speed monitor boards so drivers will take notice of just how fast they are going. The off-island mayors also must combine their lobbying efforts to ensure the SQ and Quebec deal with their rightful concerns about the lack of police presence in their neighbourhoods.

Drivers, in general, also must take responsibility for their actions and end results. Attitudes towards drinking and driving have changed over the decades, but aggressive driving still goes on without much notice until there is a tragedy, and then fades away. It is time motorists were sensitized to the problem and then made to pay if they keep speeding in residential zones.

With teens charged in the Ile Perrot case, there is also a call to raise the legal driving age to 21 from 16. A website dedicated to the little girl www.ange-bianca.piczo.com) has an online petition. While raising the age limit should be considered, changing it to 18 makes more sense than 21.

Hopefully, some changes and awareness can come out of the tragic death of a three-year-old, but it's a shame that much-needed action only seems to come after someone dies.