(LONDON, ON) – Members of the West Region Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Traffic Unit are discouraged over the rise in the number of Impaired / Over 80 drivers arrested during recent R.I.D.E. stop checks so far.
Between November 23 – December 4, 2013 (172) drivers were charged with Impaired, Over 80 or Refusal. 42 of those charged were in West Region. For the same time period in 2014, (215) persons have been charged with Impaired, Over 80 or Refusal during R.I.D.E. checks. 71 of those drivers were in West Region.
This roughly 20% increase is quite concerning given all the education, awareness and enforcement to this issue. Impaired driving is the second leading cause of injury and death on our roadways.
The OPP will continue to educate and step up enforcement this holiday season in our attempt to make sure drivers are doing so sober.
Sober driving is everyone’s responsibility. Passengers and those hosting festive events have equal responsibility in ensuring that anyone who is drinking alcohol or taking drugs does not get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.