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Accident reporting centre located in police headquarters by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff 5 | Thursday, March 7, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Residents who find themselves involved in slight fenderbenders can get the assistance they need at Halton Regional Police Service Headquarters, at 1151 Bronte Rd., instead of at the side of the road. Police officially opened the Accident Support Services International (ASSI) Halton Collision Reporting Centre Friday with a ribbon cutting at the Bronte Road facility. "Accidents are traumatic," said Halton Police Chief Stephen Tanner during the event. "Having a full-service access centre within a police department, as we will now have here with ASSI, will allow people to come in, report the accidents, sometimes at a more convenient time and manner, and at the same time link up with insurance companies and service providers." ASSI President Steve Sanderson said with the opening of the Bronte Road facility and its sister, the Milton Collision Reporting Centre, located at 490 Childs Dr., in Milton, ASSI now runs 25 collision reporting centres in Ontario in partnership with police services and the insurance industry. Sanderson noted that while collisions involving personal injury, criminal activity (e.g. impaired driving) or damage to private property would still be handled by the police at the scene, other collisions -- those in which drivers can still drive their car -- could be handled at the collision centre. "Supporting insurance companies fund our program and there is absolutely no cost to the police or the public for our services," said Sanderson. Halton police Staff Sgt. Roger Wilkie, left, Accident Support Services Ltd. (ASSI) counsellor Danna Chuchmach, Halton Police Chief Steve Tanner, ASSI President Steve Sanderson and vice president Robert Gutwein, Halton Deputy Chief Andrew Fletcher, and ASSI Manager Andrea Wapshare cut the ribbon at the opening of Halton Collision Reporting Centre in police headquarters, 1151 Bronte Rd. photo by Michael Ivanin ­ Special to the Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) "Our programs free up police officers to attend higher priority calls for service and engage in a more proactive traffic enforcement. Moving collision reporting from the side of the road and into the collision reporting centre prevents secondary collisions ensuring the safety of the public and responding officers." Sanderson said early contact between residents and their insurance companies, which the centre would facilitate, speeds up the claims process and aids in preventing possible insurance fraud. He also pointed out the centre's location means police will be on hand to assist when needed. Photos of the damaged vehicles can be taken at the Bronte Road location and forwarded to the insurance company with the owner's permission. The Oakville Collision Reporting Centre on Bronte Road is open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. seven days a week. The Milton Collision Reporting Centre on Childs Drive is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday. Our programs free up police officers to attend higher priority calls for service.... Steve Sanderson, president Accident Support Services International (ASSI) CLEARANCE FLOOR MODEL SALE R E OV DAY LD ON 11 E H O M AR T M