During January and February, the North Bay Police Service’s traffic enforcement officer will be conducting an enhanced enforcement campaign against motorists who follow other road users too closely — commonly known as “tailgating.”
Section 158(1) of Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act prohibits motorists from following “more closely than is reasonable and prudent having due regard for the speed of the vehicle and the traffic on and the conditions of the highway.” Police officers must use their discretion when laying a charge for tailgating, as there is no specific following distance stated in the law.
The exception is commercial motor vehicles that, when travelling on a highway at a speed exceeding 60 kilometres per hour “shall not follow within 60 metres of another motor vehicle” except when overtaking.
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. In 2024, there were 2,681 collisions in North Bay of which 1,260 (47 per cent) were rear-end impacts on public roads. In December 2024 alone, rear-end impacts accounted for 77 per cent of all motor vehicle collisions.
It is your responsibility as a driver to leave sufficient following space behind another vehicle in order to stop unexpectedly. During the winter months, it is also important to ensure your car is properly equipped with winter tires, which can shorten braking distances by as much as 25 per cent in winter conditions. Following too closely also puts your insurance rates at risk, because the driver who strikes another vehicle from behind is generally at fault.
Drivers charged for following too closely face a total fine of $110 and four 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.
How to provide a traffic tip:
Anyone with information regarding traffic violations or problem areas within the City of North Bay can provide this information to the North Bay Police Service at 705-497-5555 and press 5 to speak with an officer or by e-mail to [email protected].
