Impaired driving on the rise leading up to the holiday season
Posted Dec 15, 2024 12:31:56 PM.
Last Updated Dec 15, 2024 12:35:28 PM.
Fifty-six people have been charged with impaired driving since the start of the Festive RIDES on Nov. 28. The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) report this marks a 17 per cent increase from the 48 drivers charged over the same period in 2023.
Officers have conducted seven RIDE checkpoints since late November, stopping over 2,000 vehicles to ensure drivers are not impaired by alcohol or drugs.
Last week officers responded to a serious collision that caused serious injuries on Dwyer Hill Rd. A man in his 50s was arrested and charged with impaired driving.
“Impaired driving remains a dangerous and preventable risk to public safety. As we continue into the holiday season, we urge everyone to make responsible choices,” Acting Sergeant Amy Gagnon said in a press release. “If you’re celebrating, plan ahead and don’t get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking or using drugs.”
The OPS team is not the only force cracking down on impaired driving this holiday season. The OPP also have a festive RIDE program that began on Nov. 21. In the first two weeks, OPP officers conducted over 1,000 checks and laid 45 impaired driving arrests and an additional 14 warnings.
According to the OPP’s 2023 Annual Report, year round impaired driving charges are on the rise; up 17 per cent since 2021.
Festive RIDE operations will continue throughout the holiday season in various locations. Police report that these RIDE programs are conducted day or night.
The message is clear: if you suspect someone is driving impaired, please call 9-1-1 immediately. Your actions could help save lives.
