By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
On Monday, Nov. 16, the Northumberland Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police will be launching the province’s newest Collision Reporting Centre.
Motorists involved in a property-damage collision can now report the incident at a centre located at the OPP Northumberland detachment – 1165 Division St. In Cobourg.
There are 11 similar OPP CRCs in the Greater Toronto Area and at southern Ontario OPP detachments. Drivers needing to report a collision can do so within 48 hr. of the occurrence at any of these locations.
The Highway Traffic Act requires that all collisions where people are injured or property damage to vehicles or property (or to any highway property) is valued at more than $2,000 must be reported to police forthwith. Reporting to the CRC will meet this requirement.
Property-damage crashes require a large amount of police resources and time, as well as putting all involved occupants at risk of being involved in a secondary collision and greater risk of injury. Members of the Northumberland OPP attended 2,479 property-damage collisions in the year from Oct. 1, 2019, to Sept. 30, 2020.
The CRC will provide a more effective use of police resources and allow front-line officers to focus more time on proactive efforts to enhance public safety.
The Northumberland OPP will continue to offer the same excellent service in responding to collisions that require an officer to attend. However, many collisions on Northumberland highways are minor in nature, and drivers are able to clear their vehicles quickly and safely off the highway without police assistance. An officer who attends a collision may direct those involved persons to attend the CRC if all the criteria are met.
“One of our goals is to ensure that these property-damage collisions no longer increase traffic congestion and reduce the chance of a more serious collision from occurring,” the announcement said.
“This is achieved by diverting motorists to a location off the highway to allow the administration of reporting the collision.”
Collisions involving the following will continue to have an officer investigate the collision at the scene:
Death or Injury
Transportation of dangerous goods
Involvement of large commercial motor vehicles
Fail to remain (unless no driver or vehicle information available for follow-up)
Collision where there is suspicion of criminal activity
Suspended or unlicensed drivers
Uninsured vehicles
Drivers refusing to share required information to other drivers
Vehicles blocking live lanes of traffic
Damage to private, public or government property
Government vehicles
Collisions involving a pedestrian or cyclist
An involved driver at any collision may request to have an OPP officer attend the scene if the collision has occurred in OPP jurisdiction.
Hours of operation for the new CRC will be 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays (closed Sundays).
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
