Ontario’s Halton police going back to driving school for too many accidents

An alarming amount of fender benders has forced Halton police into mandatory driver training, wrapping up a tough PR week for Ontario's boys and girls in blue.

Police cruisers in this community west of Toronto have been involved in 70 accidents in the first six months of the year, an average of nearly 12 wrecks a month costing more than $150,000.

Accidents involving cruisers are up 23 per cent from the same period in 2009 and 18 per cent from 2010. Of the 70 accidents, more than 40 had been classified as preventable, forcing a mandatory 90-minute online driving course onto the officers.

"I don't know if embarrassment is the term," said Sgt. Dave Cross of the force's response to the accidents in a Toronto Star story. "Certainly, it has caused us to institute this online driving course in an effort to curb that (crash numbers). Any collision is certainly a concern to us as a service."

Hitting objects while reversing, specifically from shopping mall parking spots, was cited as the most common occurrence. Others included trailing too close to vehicles, making improper turns and travelling too fast for the conditions.

Shockingly, none of the reported collisions occurred while passing through a red light with the cherries lit, a tactic many drivers feel is unnecessarily exploited by police.

Though he cannot confirm any issued traffic tickets, Cross explains the guilty officers can be ticketed for violations such as improper turns.

"If they are deemed to be at fault and there is a charge to be laid, in fact, a charge would be laid," said Cross.

The mandatory training focuses on improving self-awareness and managing distractions to identify and avoid driving hazards. Safety during routine traffic stops will also be touched on - two recent cases involved patrol cars that had been rear-ended while attending a traffic violation.

Officers receive driver training at the Ontario Police College when they join the Halton police, which includes time spent in a driving simulator. Perhaps some more authentic experience on the road could prevent the necessity for a second go at driver training.

(CP Photo)