WELLINGTON CTY – The OPP reminds motorists of the danger of mixing alcohol with driving. This year’s festive Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere campaign starts Nov. 27 and runs to Jan. 2.
As of Nov. 22, 271 people have died this year on OPP patrolled roadways and 42 were alcohol-related collisions. While police continue RIDE checks all the year, the Christmas initiative has proven to be an effective tool in educating the driving public about the dangers of driving while impaired.
Last year, OPP officers stopped 884,729 vehicles. As a result, 319 persons were arrested and charged with criminal code alcohol-related offences. Officers also issued a total of 784 twelve-hour suspensions and 353 ninety-day administrative drivers licence suspensions.
Since May, under the Safe Roads for a Safer Ontario Act, those 12-hour suspensions for drivers whose blood alcohol concentration exceeds .05 milligrams has been replaced with a graded licence suspension period that includes a three day suspension for a first offence, a seven-day suspension for a second offence and 30 days for subsequent suspensions.
Visit www.opp.ca for regular campaign updates.
Sergeant Douglas Pflug of the Guelph City Police announced the program will be operating at various locations throughout the city and will run through the festive season.
