OPP aims to improve public safety, reduce GTA traffic congestion through expansion of Collision Reporting Centres

ORILLIA, ON, March 24, 2016 /CNW/ - Eight Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)-staffed Collision Reporting Centres (CRC) are now operating in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) to provide a safer, quicker and more convenient way for drivers to report property damage (PD) collisions. 

A PD collision is one in which no injuries are sustained to any of the parties involved and no significant damage to any of the vehicles. Reporting minor collisions of this nature to a CRC eliminates the need to call 911 and have a police officer attend.

CRCs help keep road users safe and keep traffic moving

Drivers involved in PD collisions can clear their vehicles, if driveable, to a safe location off the highway, which reduces the risk of a secondary collision involving approaching vehicles.  Another significant benefit to road users is that rapid clearance of the vehicles away from traffic helps reduce congestion that often results from these vehicles remaining on the roadside. This can be especially helpful in the GTA which has some of the busiest highways in North America.

An enhanced process means reduced wait times

Reporting PD collisions to a CRC means that drivers no longer have to face potentially long wait times for police, who often have to make their way through heavy GTA traffic to get to the scene. 

Once drivers clear their vehicles off the highway, they must exchange licence and insurance information in a safe location.  If drivers estimate that the total combined damage to the vehicles exceeds $2,000, they are required to report the collision to a CRC within 48 hours. By calling 1-800-773-0007, drivers will be provided with detailed information on what they need to do and where they can go to report the collision.

"The expansion of our Collision Reporting Centres in the GTA is an excellent example of collaboration between the OPP and the drivers we count on to help keep highways and roads safe. As we have said before, drivers are among our most valued road safety partners and we thank them for supporting these new resources and measures for dealing with PD collisions," said Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair, Provincial Commander, Traffic Safety and Operational Support.   

Blair explained that the expansion of the OPP CRCs is a pilot project that aims to provide for a more efficient use of OPP policing resources, allowing front-line officers to focus more time on proactive efforts to enhance public safety.

The OPP CRCs are located in Aurora, Milton, Burlington, Whitby, Port Credit (Mississauga) and Barrie.  Click on the following link for location and contact information: http://www.opp.ca/media/crc-web.pdf

The other two CRCs in the GTA are privately-managed but also OPP-staffed (see below for location and contact information).

North Collision Reporting Centre	East Collision Reporting Centre
113 Toryork Drive, Toronto, ON	39 Howden Road, Scarborough, ON
Ph: [phone]	Ph: [phone]
Open 7 days a week, 6:30 a.m.-1:30 a.m.	Open 7 days a week, 6:30 a.m.-1:30 a.m.

SOURCE Ontario Provincial Police

Sgt. Kerry Schmidt, OPP Highway Safety Division, Phone: [phone]