Some drivers on Highway 401 will have to pay an $85 fine after the Ontario Provincial Police caught 12 of them driving in the wrong direction on Sunday.

The OPP said in a news release that at about 8:30 a.m., emergency services were called to a collision in the westbound lanes of Highway 401, just east of Shannonville Road.

A transport truck’s trailer was blocking both lanes after it slid out from behind its cab. Police learned that the driver was forced to quickly brake to avoid a motorist who had pulled abruptly in front of them. The back end of the transport then slid across the icy highway and came to rest blocking the lanes of the highway, making it impassable.

The highway was closed down for roughly 30 minutes while a heavy tow truck arrived to get the transport truck mobile again.

OPP said several of the drivers who were stuck in line behind the truck decided 30 minutes was too long to wait, so they turned around and drove east in the westbound lanes.

OPP received several complaints about the drivers and located 12 of them. All were charged under the Highway Traffic Act with driving the wrong way on a divided highway.

“It is necessary to be patient and follow directions of officers while a traffic investigation is ongoing,” the OPP said in their release. “Failing to do so actually causes further delay as police are trying to manage those trying to circumvent the actual delay.

“Officers are making efforts to clear the roadway and trying to maintain public safety.”