Season’s first snow fall doesn’t feature demolition derby on local roadways

THUNDER BAY – By the time morning breaks after the first snowfall of the year, the Thunder Bay Police Service’s Traffic Unit is usually under what Sgt. Glenn Porter would refer to as “mass mayhem.”

Friday morning bucked that trend.

According to Environment Canada, snow began falling at 6 p.m. on Sunday and continued until 8 a.m. on Monday. The first collision of the local 2015-2016 winter season struck at 7:38 a.m., more than 13 hours after the last vehicle crash.

Since then, police saw only two more collisions on Friday morning, with no injuries and no major damage.

“It’s surprising. It’s really shocking,” Porter said.

“Let’s face it, with every snowflake that falls, one more driver forgets how to drive.”

Porter pointed out incidents following the first snowfall are in stark contrast to collisions on the first Monday after daylight saving time ended. On the morning of Nov. 2, police responded to 26 collisions, three times more calls than an average Monday.

This first snowfall isn’t expected to last. Environment Canada is calling for local temperature highs of 9 C on both Saturday and Sunday.