LONDON – The OPP’s Festive RIDE campaign, which ran from Nov. 17 to Jan. 2, resulted in a significant number of charges across the West Region.
The charges include:
– 278 for impaired driving (280 charges last year);
– 49 warning-range suspensions (55 last year); and
– 1,904 RIDE checkpoints (up from 1,243).
“The OPP encourages drivers to make the smart, safe choice: if you plan to drink or take drugs always take a taxi, contact a rideshare service or use a designated driver,” stated Ross Stuart, the OPP’s West Region Traffic and Marine manager. “Impaired driving poses a major safety risk to all drivers.”
Across Ontario the following charges were laid during the OPP’s Festive RIDE campaign:
– 812 drivers charged with a total of 1,258 impaired driving offences;
– 208 warning-range suspensions;
– 21 zero tolerance suspensions; and
– close to 10,000 RIDE stops throughout the province, checking approximately 240,000 drivers.
“The OPP thanks all road users and citizens who reported suspected impaired drivers to police and did their part to keep roads safe over the holidays,” states an OPP press release.
“Drivers are reminded that the OPP conducts RIDE events throughout the year as part of its ongoing efforts to save lives on Ontario roads.”
Anyone who suspects a driver is impaired can call 911.
