CityNews follow up: Concerns increase following fatal crashes on Hwy. 10

Last week, we posted an in-depth story about safety concerns on Highway 10 near Caledon. Today, a man who’s driven the highway nearly every day for the past 25 years, is speaking out about his experience.

“I now hate driving on Highway 10 because each day, you never know what’s going to happen,” said Martin Boxall.

He says he’s nearly been killed several times while using the highway to get to and from work.

“Drivers treat it like a racetrack,” he said. “It’s unacceptable.”

As CityNews reported, there have been three deadly crashes, in four days, which closed sections of Highway 10 in Peel region and Dufferin county.

Since Oct. 28th, officers in Central Region have investigated 11 serious roadway collisions, eight of which have been fatal.

Three of those eight fatal collisions were on Highway 10.

“It’s always in the back of your mind when you’re driving on it,” Boxall said. “What’s going to happen today? I don’t know what they’re going to do about it but they need to do something.”

O.P.P. has stepped up patrols.

“We’re doing enforcement on Highway 10 every single day, enforcement being one part of the solution,” said Constable Joe Brisebois, with O.P.P. Central Region.

But there are other issues.

Caledon town leaders, like councillor Lynn Kiernan, told CityNews the Ministry of Transportation needs more safety upgrades to keep up with the growing population in that area.

Boxall agrees.

“There has been a huge population increase in this area and traffic has dramatically increased which is part of the problem.”

It’s something a spokesperson from the M.T.O. says they are addressing.

“In collaboration with local councillors and the mayor, the ministry has been working with the town of Caledon to improve overall driver safety on the highway,”

We’re told those discussions continue, some leaders would also like to see reduced speed limits, especially in Caledon.

But Boxall isn’t sure that will do any good since drivers aren’t obeying the limit as it is now. He’s speaking out to plead with drivers in this area, who he says, are to blame for the dangerous conditions.

“There’s no justification for how people drive other then being selfish, it’s a direct reflection of our society,” he said.

“Everyone is in a hurry with little regard to other drivers on the road. I’m actually looking forward to the day I retire — it’s a few years away — but then I won’t have to drive on 10 anymore.”

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