WITH WINTER STORM warnings seemingly an almost-daily occurrence in recent weeks, some of Dufferin's major roadways have been closed by police, often for several hours.

Under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, once a highway is closed, anyone going around the barricades can be charged. As well, if they get into an accident they might well find themselves having problems with their insurer.

Without a doubt, these weather-related closures are safety-related. Although the weather might seem to be fine at a barricade erected on Dufferin 124 (formerly Highway 24) just north of Highway 89, the closure there is invariably required because of whiteouts farther north, particularly in the Redickville area.

In the long run, the best way of dealing with whiteouts is to eliminate the risk by "going green" - planting rows of evergreens along wide-open stretches of highways. But that's a solution that obviously requires close to a decade to become truly effective.

In the mean time, we think it would be a good idea for the Province to experiment with convoys as an alternative to closures.

Ideally, we would have legislation that would make it an offence for vehicles to overtake the police cruiser or plow leading the convoy as it proceeded at a safe pace in much the same way as is already the case when roads are under construction or being repaved.

If nothing else, such an alternative would reduce the risk of drivers venturing off on to sideroads that are likely in worse shape than the closed highway.