(SOUTH BRUCE COUNTY, ON) – As the holiday season approaches, the South Bruce OPP would like to remind motorists about the danger of impaired driving. This year’s Festive R.I.D.E. (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaign will be in effect from Friday November 26th, 2010 until Sunday January 2nd, 2011.
As of November 21, 2010, 304 people have died on OPP patrolled roadways, 50 of which were alcohol-related collisions. Although, R.I.D.E. is conducted all year long, the Festive R.I.D.E. initiative has proven to be an effective deterrent and an important tool in raising awareness about the continued, senseless loss of life and injuries that result from driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
During the 2009 five week OPP R.I.D.E. initiative, South Bruce OPP officers stopped 25,272 vehicles. Officers arrested and charged 5 impaired drivers which includes an immediate 90 day Administrative Drivers Licence Suspension. Another 10 drivers received warn range suspensions.
The OPP is reminding the public about changes to driving laws in Ontario that take effect on December 1, 2010, where drivers who have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over 80 milligrams or who fail/refuse to comply with a demand to provide a sample by a police officer will see their vehicles impounded for 7 days.
This change to the Ontario driving law is in addition to other recent changes that took effect in August, 2010 where drivers under 21 years, regardless of the class of licence they have, must have a zero BAC or be suspended on the spot for 24 hours.
Also, under the new Safe Roads for a Safer Ontario Act introduced last year, drivers caught driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) between 0.05 to 0.08 (known as the “warn rangeâ€), will have their licence immediately suspended for three days for a first occurrence, seven days for a second occurrence and 30 days for a third or subsequent occurrence.
South Bruce OPP detachment commander Inspector Bill Klym has a strong message for motorists, “Drinking and driving remains the leading cause of criminal death in Canada. An impaired driver is an unacceptable and completely preventable threat to public safety on the roads. The South Bruce OPP has a zero tolerance for impaired driving.â€
For regular updates on the 2010 Festive R.I.D.E. program visit the OPP website at www.opp.ca.