Ottawa members of the Ontario Provincial Police are kicking off their annual Festive R.I.D.E. campaign.
Officers want to remind local motorist that R.I.D.E. stops will be highly visible on highways within the City of Ottawa, starting Friday, November 23, until January 2, 2019.
So far this year, alcohol and/or drugs were a factor in the deaths of 39 people on OPP patrolled roads.
From January 1 to mid-October 2018, the OPP laid more than 6,700 impaired driving charges across the province, 283 of which were impaired by drugs.
The OPP's Standardized Field Sobriety Test officers and Drug Recognition Expert officers have the training and tools to be effective in identifying drug-impaired drivers.
The Ottawa OPP reminds all motorists to not drive while impaired and obey traffic laws.
Officers are out on the highways 24/7, to ensure public safety.