Petawawa OPP targeting impaired drivers in upcoming RIDE program
Posted Jun 2, 2022 12:13:00 AM.
Impaired drivers are the latest target for cops in Petawawa headings into the first weekend of June.
The Upper Ottawa Valley Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) partnered with the Petawawa Police Service Board (PPSB) to conduct a Mega Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) program that will happen on Friday, June 3.
The Mega RIDE program will target impaired driving and motorists who can expect to encounter roadside checkpoints throughout the Town of Petawawa.
Members of the PPSB and community volunteers will join police at the checkpoints and provide gifts to sober drivers.
“This joint forces initiative between the OPP, the Military Police and Petawawa Police Service Board is a demonstration of our commitment to working with our policing partners and community stakeholders to make our roadways in the Upper Ottawa Valley as safe as possible,” Upper Ottawa Valley OPP operations manager Staff Sgt. MaryAnn MacNeil said in a statement.
Drivers are urged not to drink and/or consume drugs and drive; drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and appoint a designated driver, take a taxi or spend the night.
According to the most recent statistics released by Statistics Canada, in 2019, Ontario had a rate of police-reported impaired driving incidents of 104 per 100,000.
Ontario also reported a five per cent increase in its impaired driving rate in that same year.
