Road closure and emergency detour signs, what motorists should do when they come across them
When a large sign reads ‘ROAD CLOSED,’ it seems not every driver knows what that means and Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say, road and lane closed signs are often ignored.
“Shockingly, far more often than you might imagine,” said Sgt. Kerry Schmidt with OPP. “We’ve had officers jump and dive for cover as vehicles have approached them in a closure.”
A prime example of this was in 2018 when a firefighter could be seen on video jumping over a guard rail to avoid being struck by an incoming car.
Whether the entire road is closed or just a lane, officials are begging drivers to pay attention, slow down and move over or turn around.
"It’s actually more terrifying than frustrating. We’ve had officers jump and dive for cover as vehicles have approached them in a closure,” said Sgt. Schmidt.
Drivers who enter a closed-off area are not only putting lives at risk, but they can also damage the integrity of a crime scene.
“It can contaminate the evidence that we are working on. It can damage the equipment,” Schmidt added.
From a lawyer’s perspective, it could be difficult for a driver who was caught ignoring a road closed sign to fight the charge in court.
“When a driver has sort of blatantly violated a signage that’s on the road, whether it’s a closed lane or a closed road entirely, those typically are cases where that driver will be found at fault,” said Rajiv Haté, a personal injury lawyer with Kotak Law.
In Ontario, ignoring the signage carries a fine of $110 plus three demerit points.
In terms of insurance, if a driver is caught going through a road closed sign without causing any injury or damage, it could be considered a minor conviction, but every situation is different.
“If they were stunting at that time of if there were other things that play into that, it can of course be more severe including failing to obey police, for example, which could be major or even criminal in some cases,” said Daniel Ivans, an insurance expert with Rates.ca.
So everyone is able to get home safely, police are urging driver to know and follow the rules when they find a closed road.
Editor's note: This story is important to our CTV team, as we continue to keep our friend and colleague Stephanie Villella in our thoughts. Villella was struck and injured while reporting on a collision from a barricaded and closed road. This story is being reported on in an effort to bring awareness to the importance of heeding these warnings, to protect all those who travel and work on our roadways.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.