OPP launches RIDE Program

The OPP announced this week that its annual RIDE Program starts this Friday.
The press release is posted below:

(Northumberland County, ON) – The holiday season is approaching fast and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like to remind motorists of the danger of mixing alcohol with driving. This year’s annual OPP Festive R.I.D.E. (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaign will be in effect from Friday November 27, 2009 through to Saturday January 2, 2010.

As of November 22, 2009, 271 people have died on OPP patrolled roadways - 42 of which were alcohol-related collisions. The most effective tool in the reduction of these kinds of senseless deaths on our roads is prevention. While the OPP continues to conduct R.I.D.E. spot checks throughout the year, the Festive R.I.D.E. initiative has proven to be an effective deterrent and an important tool in educating the driving public about the dangers of driving while impaired.

During the 2008 five-week OPP R.I.D.E. initiative, OPP officers stopped 884,729 vehicles at roadside checkpoints. 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 issued 353 ninety-day Administrative Drivers Licence Suspensions.

Since May, 2009, under the Safe Roads for a Safer Ontario Act, the former 12-hour administrative suspension for drivers whose blood alcohol concentration exceeds .05 milligrams has been replaced with a graded licence suspension period that includes a 3 day suspension for a first offence, a 7-day suspension for a second offence and 30 days for subsequent suspensions.

“Drinking and driving is a serious threat to public safety and remains the leading cause of criminal death in Canada. The tragic loss of life and the burden on the health care system that results touches every one of us at some point in our lives,” said OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino.

“Ontario Roads are among the safest in North America;” Chief Superintendent Bill Grodzinski, Commander of the OPP’s Highway Safety Division said. While the OPP continues to conduct R.I.D.E. spot checks throughout the year, the Festive R.I.D.E. initiative has proved to be an effective deterrent and important tool to educate the driving public about the dangers of driving while impaired.”

Visit the OPP website at www.opp.ca for regular updates of the results on the 2009 Festive R.I.D.E. program.