Tailgating traffic enforcement campaign underway
Tailgating, or vehicles following too close, is the focus of a city police enforcement campaign for January and February.
The North Bay Police Service says there were 2,681 collisions in North Bay last year, of which 1,260 (47 per cent) were rear-end impacts on public roads.
Officials add that in December 2024 alone, rear-end impacts accounted for 77 per cent of all motor vehicle collisions.
“Rear-end impacts are the leading cause of collisions in North Bay, and are mostly preventable if drivers give themselves more time and distance to react to the vehicles travelling ahead of them, should they come to a sudden, unanticipated stop,” states a release.
Drivers charged for following too closely face a total fine of $110 and 4 demerit points upon conviction.
The total fine increases to $150 in community safety zones.
The City of North Bay also gives police the authority to charge violators under section 3.1(2) of City of North Bay Traffic By-Law 2014-38, “Driver strike rear of another vehicle,” which also carries a $110 total fine, but no demerit points.
Meantime, city police say two drivers were charged with failing to stop for a school bus in North Bay in the final week before the Christmas break.
It was part of the service’s December school bus safety campaign.
“I hope the two individuals that we caught passing stopped school buses will learn an important lesson and drive carefully and safely from now on,” says Cst. Douglas MacIntosh, the North Bay Police Service’s Traffic Enforcement Officer. “A larger school bus safety campaign is coming, and drivers will not be given advance notice. Please remain alert.”
Police say a fail to stop for the school bus charge comes with a minimum $490 fine for first-time violators and 6 demerit points upon conviction.
They say a conviction can also lead to higher insurance rates.
Host Jennifer Tocheri