Great Scott—The President Writes

by Scott Hutchings, President

Dear Commissioner Fantino:

I am writing to you as I am a little concerned by what seems to be a standard behaviour exhibited by your officers while driving on the highways of late.

First of all, I am going to quote from the OPP web site, both from your personal page as well as the "Traffic Safety" page.

From your page:

"Traffic safety is a key priority for me and for this organization. The objective is to improve the safety of drivers on highways and roadways under OPP jurisdiction. Let me tell you briefly what this means.

First, traffic safety is now the responsibility of every OPP officer, every day, all the time, whether the officer is part of regular traffic patrols or not. Traffic safety is now a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, law enforcement priority. We are now proactively and strategically targeting high-risk drivers who threaten everyone’s safety on our roadways. Find out more in the section called "Traffic Safety"."

And from the Traffic Safety page:

"The Ontario Provincial Police is recognized throughout North America as a leader in traffic safety. The ability to analyze successes in traffic issues provides an opportunity for the organization to rise above the culture of status quo. The OPP will continue to demonstrate true leadership by embracing and incorporating the principles of the Provincial Traffic Safety Program into the core functions of every OPP member saving more lives.

The Provincial Traffic Safety Program is a proactive, sustainable approach to traffic safety directed at high-risk behaviours. Occupant restraint, impaired driving and aggressive driving behaviours represent the major causal factors in fatal and serious injury collisions. The focus of the Provincial Traffic Safety Program is to reduce injuries and save lives on Ontario’s highways, trails and waterways."

Further, let me quote the law as it pertains to Daytime Running Lights:

"(44) Every bus, multi-purpose passenger vehicle, passenger car,

three-wheeled vehicle and truck shall be equipped with two daytime running

lamps or, where the daytime running lamps are optically combined with the

upper beams of the headlamps, with two or four daytime running lamps.

(45) A daytime running lamp shall be white, yellow or white to yellow, in

accordance with sections 3.1.3, 3.1.2 and 3.1.3.1, respectively, of SAE

Standard J578, Color Specification (May 1988)."

Taken from the Department of Justice Canada web site, Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (C.R.C., c. 1038) page.

Now that I have your attention, let me explain why I have quoted your web site.

The past few weeks I have had the occasion to come across a couple of OPP cruisers on the 407.

The first time was late in the day during a snowfall. The cruiser in question was traveling westbound coming up on Derry Road. The cruiser was traveling in the inside lane at speed … with no light at all on the vehicle.

The second cruiser was a similar situation (without the snowfall). Traveling in the outside lane (he was exiting further up). This officer was one of the better OPP officers I have encountered on the roads as he used his signals every lane change (something very rare in my 900,000+ kms of driving). However, this cruiser was the same as the previous one … no exterior lighting on at all.

Now, I will be the first to admit that I am not a lawyer nor am I a student of law, so there could very well be something that allows the OPP (or any other law enforcement body) to be exempt from the laws governing all other motor vehicles in Canada.

If that is not the case, I would strongly suggest that it is something that needs to be looked into as these cruisers have been altered in such a way that they do not meet the regulations set out.

Beyond that … the OPP should be an organization (as you have suggested it is) that promotes safety and should be setting the example by which all other motorists should be looking to. Driving on any 400-series highway at any time of day without some sort of lighting on is not a safe practice. Driving in snow or during low light periods without lights on is not only unsafe, but it is dangerous.

While we are on the topic of road safety, I would like to understand why your officers (at least some of them) do not adhere to the messages of safety that your organization is sending to the public. On more than one occasion I have witnessed OPP cruisers change lanes without signaling, drive while talking on hand-held cell phones, and speed without any emergency lights on.

In short, the OPP is falling a long way off of your target of "demonstrating true leadership by embracing and incorporation the principles of the Provincial Traffic Safety Program". I would encourage you to take a look at your officers and ensure they are in fact, leading by example … everyday, everywhere.

Until we meet again, Happy Saabing!

Scott