Today officials with Ontario Northland and the North East Region Ontario Provincial Police (NER OPP) re-launched the Coach on Patrol (COP) program. A program designed to support public safety on Northern Ontario roads and to enhance safety procedures for drivers and passengers.
Officials say under the program the motor coach operators will be a trained valuable resource tied into the NER OPP Highway Safety Division – Traffic and Marine Unit, which will see the operators monitoring roadways on their routes and reporting any concerns they are having or witnessing that requires police assistance.
OPP Inspector Mark Andrews says it is great to have the extra eyes on the road and he is pleased that the program has been retooled and re-established. He says the operators have been thoroughly trained on what to look for and how to report it.
“The whole concept of this program was initiated back around 1999-2000, what was missing was the training component and the follow up component. And the idea was put forth back in ’99 but it really didn’t have the follow up or the have the legs it needed to do what we have done this time,” he explains.
“So we looked at the program; why didn’t it prosper and saw the weaknesses and we’ve enhanced that with the training, the reporting mechanisms the tour of the provincial communications centre, and all of those things that I think that’s why this program now will have the legs and flourish.”
Andrews it is important for travelers have a certain comfort level when traveling and publicising the program drives home the message that this is a safe way to travel.
“This kind of cooperative and how to call with the panic buttons that are being installed on the bus for the drivers, those direct contact numbers that we provided them, the training on how to watch for things, to look and to let us know and have that communication directly with the communication centre it will just enhance the safety.”
“The reason that we are being so open about this to the public is we want anyone to know, who may be riding on a bus to know, that it’s a fact that it’s a safe way to travel.”
“The communication (and) cooperation between our two organizations is very effective.”
Tony Wentzell, Local Chairman, Teamsters Canada Rail Conference for Ontario Northland motor coach operators, says a recent incident spurred on both agencies to re-examine the program.
“One of our drivers was driving through a motel parking lot, going to his room and parking the bus for the night, and he noticed some kids rifling through cars, so he just drove the bus through called the OPP who came and caught the kids in the act.”
“He had mentioned after that, that you know we very often call things in to the police and we’re kind of like a silent partner with them anyways so it was time to maybe look at re-examining this and getting a little more official.”
“The provincial police have told us that as many eyes they can get out on the road they really appreciate and giving us a little training and a little bit of insight as to what’s really important for them just make their job easier and make the highways a little safer.”
Calling motor coach operators unsung heroes who face adverse conditions day in and day out, Paul Goulet, President and CEO of Ontario Northland says the formal agreement will help further safety on the highways.
“I think it is incredibly important, it was informal now we’ve re-established and formalized it, but when you think our drivers are out there adverse northern conditions transporting students, seniors citizens, our family members in weather that we probably wouldn’t drive in -- now to have a formal partnership with the Ontario Provincial Police looking out for each other I think it’s incredibly important.”
