November 20, 2015
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(SOUTHERN BRUCE COUNTY, ON) – Police know that the approaching holiday season brings an increase in the number of alcohol-impaired drivers on Ontario roadways. This means there is likely to be more tragedy on our roads in the days ahead.
The OPP is setting up traffic stops around the province and around the clock as it kicks off the 2015 Festive RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaign. This highly-effective public safety initiative will run throughout the holiday season, from Nov. 23, 2015, to Jan. 2, 2016.
From January to October, the number of alcohol-involved occurrences is up three per cent over the same period last year. As of Nov. 15, of the 258 people killed during that time period, 35 fatalities were attributed to alcohol consumption. Thirteen people died when their off-road vehicle was involved in a collision; six of those had been impaired by alcohol.
Police have seen the number of occurrences of drug-impaired driving rise in Ontario over the past year. Police are reminding the public during this Festive RIDE campaign that the OPP now has Drug Recognition officers with specialized training to identify drug-impaired drivers. The OPP also has a significant number of officers who conduct standardized field sobriety tests on drivers who give police a reasonable suspicion of impairment by drugs.
“So far this year, the OPP has laid more than 6,800 alcohol- and drug-impaired driving charges," says Brad Blair,deputy commissioner, provincial commander of Traffic Safety and Operational Support. "This is an unbelievable statistic. There are many ways to get home after a party. Don’t drink or do drugs and drive, it’s just not worth it. I encourage all party-goers to have a plan to get home before they get behind the wheel this holiday season. OPP officers will be vigilant about stopping vehicles and finding drivers who are impaired by any means.”
Last year, the OPP charged 593 people with impaired-related charges during the Festive RIDE initiative. There were also 485 people who had their driver's licences suspended following a warning.
Police are also asking the people to call the authorities if they see drivers who get behind the wheel after they have been drinking.
LEARN MORE
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/impaired-driving.shtml
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