The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) wrapped up their Festive RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaign with 113 impaired driving charges across eastern Ontario. The campaign, which ran from November 21 to January 1, aimed to make the roads safer during the holiday season.
In the final week, 10 additional drivers were charged. In total, over 1,200 vehicles were stopped, and 29 drivers received immediate licence suspensions and vehicle impoundments. While the holiday campaign has concluded, the OPP remains committed to identifying and removing impaired drivers from the roads, stressing that impaired driving continues to pose a serious threat to public safety. “Every impaired driver represents a risk, and we are determined to keep our roads safe,” said OPP East Region Commander, Chief Superintendent Lisa Wilhelm.
The OPP also reminded the public that RIDE checkpoints can happen anytime and anywhere, day or night, and are designed to catch impaired drivers before they cause harm.
Meanwhile, a recent CAA survey highlights a troubling trend: more people in Ontario are admitting to driving under the influence of cannabis. The survey, which surveyed 1,664 drivers aged 19 and older, revealed that nearly 19% of respondents drove after using cannabis, a significant increase from just 5% last year. Many drivers cited underestimating how impaired they were or believing they only had a short distance to travel.
The OPP encourages the public to report suspected impaired drivers immediately by dialing 9-1-1.
(Written by: Emma Butler)