PHOTO: What Not To Do When The 401 Is Closed

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OPP photo

OPP have released  a photo of what not to do when the 401 gets closed due to an accident..

Early Tuesday morning the 401 was closed when an eastbound tractor trailer had crossed through the centre median, drove through the cable barrier and collided head on into two westbound tractor trailers.

During this collision, OPP issued a careless driving charge to a motorist who drove through the center median attempting to get out of the traffic jam.

So, what do you do if the Highway has to be closed?

According to the OPP, emergency crews will generally do everything they can to at least get one lane or shoulder passable to traffic immediately, but sometimes this is just not possible.

Sometimes, if it is determined that the highway will be closed for an extended period of time, the highway will be closed at or prior to the previous exit and traffic will be redirected at that point.

Police will then, starting at the rear of the jam, direct people to reverse one at a time, or turn around completely and drive the wrong way, on the now closed highway, to get back to the previous exit.

If they think they can clear it within an hour or so, traffic will be made to wait, as it is more efficient and time effective to just clear the lanes, than spend manpower and effort to clear the traffic.

Occasionally police/emergency crews will direct traffic back to the last ‘on-ramp’, or to cross at a ‘authorized use only’ crossover, to clear the jam.

OPP are urging drivers not to move until they have been directed by police.