THUNDER BAY — Truckers who drive unsafely on Dawson Road continue to be ticketed by city police in significant numbers.
For one infraction alone — following too closely — the Thunder Bay Police Service traffic unit charged 49 drivers over two days last week.
The fine for that offence is $110, but drivers also receive a penalty of four demerit points on their driving record.
Trucking companies don’t escape, either.
According to Const. Tom Armstrong, a charge against a driver can also affect the owner’s safety rating under the Commercial Vehicle Operators Registration program.
Police have found that drone equipment is highly effective in locating and tracking violators on Dawson Road.
This was about the fifth time in the past 11 months that a camera-equipped drone has been flown over the corridor to give officers on the ground a birds-eye view of traffic.
Armstrong described the 49 tickets for following too closely as “a fairly high number,” but added “We probably could have done more. It’s just that you can’t stop them all, basically.”
Some of the tickets were issued to truckers near Five Mile Public School, where a community safety zone means fines are even higher.
He said the police service’s traffic unit intends to continue to focus on known trouble spots such as Dawson Road.
“It’s something we’ve certainly identified as a problem. You know, these big, heavy trucks following too close is a public safety issue. It’s a hazard for the motorists, and the law is there for a reason.”
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