New policy: Rockford motorists involved in fender benders asked to self-report accident

April 03--ROCKFORD -- An accident emergency plan that used to be reserved for bad weather will now be in effect six days a week.

Beginning April 16, the Rockford Police Department will have a new procedure for responding to minor vehicle accidents that involve property damage but no injuries.

Drivers involved in minor crashes between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. will receive new instructions when they call the non-emergency number to report a crash. They will be told to exchange names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance information and vehicle registration numbers at the scene. The involved drivers will be directed to visit the nearest police district station to file a written accident report.

Drivers who are involved in accidents outside of those time frames should continue to call the non-emergency number at 815-966-2900.

Rockford Police Chief Dan O'Shea stressed that the plan is just for "garden variety accidents" that do not involve injuries.

"We're just trying to be more effective and efficient," he said. "This will allow our officers to do more education and enforcement to drive down the number of crashes."

The education and enforcement efforts may include running more radar to catch speeders and roadside safety checks.

O'Shea has attended numerous neighborhood meetings and other gatherings and says that the number one complaint among residents is related to traffic.

"Speeding cars, people playing their music too loud, people on the phone and distracted driving," he said.

O'Shea said Rockford in the past year logged more than 2,900 property damage accidents, 1,900 injury accidents, 1,600 hit-and-run accidents and 10 fatal accidents.

"That's too many for a city of 147,000 people," he said.

If a crash involves an injury, a tow, suspected drug or alcohol use, or no license or insurance, drivers should continue to call the Rockford Police Department non-emergency number at 815-966-2900.

Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen

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