Wellington County OPP’s Festive RIDE Campaign began Nov. 25 and will continue through to Jan. 16.
After conducting 47 RIDE programs throughout the county, officers charged 22 motorists with impaired driving and 26 motorists received driver’s licences suspensions for failing a roadside test.
“Before the Campaign, I was optimistic that we would see a dramatic drop in the number of impaired drivers within our county from last year’s campaign,” said Wellington County OPP Inspector Scott Lawson in a press release.
“We have been working hard with our partners to educate the public about the dangers associated with drinking and driving. It is very frustrating to look at the number of people that have been charged and who have lost their licences. “As well, out of the 194 motor vehicle collisions investigated over this same time period, two involved drinking drivers.”
Provincially, the Festive RIDE program resulted in 573 charges of impaired driving and over 350 licence suspensions following a roadside warning.
The provincial Festive RIDE Campaign wrapped up on Jan. 2 but the Wellington County campaign runs until Jan. 16.
“The holiday season has come to an end, but those motorists, who continue to consume alcohol and drive, putting others at risk, will still encounter a police presence dedicated to apprehending drinking drivers throughout 2016,” said Lawson.
“The holidays may be over, but officers will still be on full alert. There will be zero tolerance for drinking and driving in our community.”
