As of today, a police officer may not attend your next collision as the Waterloo Regional Police Service changes how it responds to vehicle crashes.

In a news release Tuesday morning, WRPS said when a crash occurs and someone calls police, dispatch will determine if an officer needs to be sent to the scene. Toronto Police implemented a similar policy for "minor" crashes in 2016.

Several factors will be taken into consideration including severity of the collision, injuries and suspicious circumstances.

If it's determined an officer is not required, the people involved in the collision will be directed to go to a collision reporting centre at 150 Maple Grove Rd. in Cambridge.

A second site will open in March at WRPS's north division offices at 45 Columbia St. E.

The centre is staffed by the Waterloo Region Accident Support Services. People can either drive or have their vehicles towed to the reporting centre where they can fill out a report and have their vehicle's damage photographed.

Gives officers time to focus on crime prevention

"Officers may still attend collision scenes to conduct traffic control and investigate when necessary," WRPS said in the release.

Waterloo Regional Police Insp. Sharon Havill said this new way of responding to calls about collisions will allow officers to address "other priority calls for service."

"This will also allow officers to focus on improved crime prevention and enforcement within Waterloo Region and will reduce wait times for those involved in collisions," Havill said.

The police service notes that in 2018, officers responded to 13,646 calls for reported collisions.