Lennox and Addington (L&A) County OPP have launched one of the provinces newest Collision Reporting Centres (CRC) at in Greater Napanee.
Under the Highway Traffic Act, motorists who are involved in collisions are required to report the incident to the police service of jurisdiction if the collision meets one or more criteria set out in the Act. This creates a burden on frontline police resources taking officers away from other core duties in support of public safety. In the case of minor collisions that do not result in injuries or major traffic disruptions, finite police resources are more efficiently utilized completing other functions.
Motorists involved in a property damage collision, within the County of Lennox and Addington will now be able to report their collision at the L&A County Collision Reporting Centre (CRC).
Thirteen similar OPP CRC’s have been opened in the province and are working very well in meeting legislative requirements and at freeing up police resources from these occurrence types to be used elsewhere. Drivers involved in a property damage collision in any of these detachment areas can now conveniently report their collision to any of these CRC’s within 48 hours of the occurrence.
Not only do these minor collisions monopolize police resources, they can also create a situation where involved drivers are waiting some time for an officer to be free to attend the scene of their minor collisions. Under the CRC mandate, an involved driver is able to report a collision anytime within 48 hours from the time of the crash, which allows drivers to carry on and report the collision at a time that could be more convenient. This also means that vehicles do not need to be left in the roadway, potentially causing traffic delays and disruptions and reducing the potential for secondary collisions to occur.
The L&A County OPP will continue to offer the same excellent service in responding to collisions that require an officer to attend – like those with significant damage, injuries or in the case of dangerous goods or criminal driving activity, uninsured vehicles or suspended drivers.
A collision incident that involves any of the following will continue to have an officer investigate the collision at the scene:
- Death or Injury
- Transportation of dangerous goods
- Involving 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
Despite the CRC being available, a driver involved in a collision may request to have an OPP officer attend the scene if the collision has occurred in OPP jurisdiction.
The Collision Reporting Centre at L&A County OPP detachment hours of operation will be Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the exception of statutory holidays.