OPP deal with 18 collisions in a 24 hour period

OPP News Release

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Within the past 24 hours, members of the North Bay Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have responded to 18 collisions on our area highways.

While the fact that we have not had anyone seriously hurt or killed during this time frame is positive, it is a good time to remind everyone how to reduce the risks of a collision during winter driving conditions.

A few key tips to keep in mind are:

 Ensure your vehicle is mechanically fit to drive in the winter. This includes 4 tires that are road worthy, and we even recommend using 4 winter tires.

 Make sure you can see and clear the snow and ice from ALL of your windows. It is a shame to see the amount of vehicles driving around with peep holes scraped on the windshield.

 Always assume that the roads will be slippery in the winter – ALWAYS; and then drive accordingly.

 Most importantly – slow down and be patient. Give yourself extra time, relax behind the wheel and always be thinking of everyone’s safety. If that means you do not pass someone who you think is driving too slowly, then do not pass. RELAX!

 If you are an inexperienced driver, or have apprehensions about driving given the weather or road conditions on a certain day, then it may be time to re-evaluate whether it is worth venturing out, perhaps postponing the trip to a different day.

“Driving in the winter is a challenge for everyone, but it is certainly not new to us in the north. While we may have had 18 collisions in the last 24 hours, I dare say there were hundreds of motorists who traveled those same highways without a collision and arrived safely to their destination.” - Constable Shawn FOUGÈRE – North Bay OPP.

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