Drunk Driving Rates Soar In Huron County – 34 Drunk Drivers Caught Already This Year

(HURON COUNTY, ON) – It’s nearly five complete months into the 2015 calendar year and Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged 34 drivers with Impaired Driving and/or Over 80 Milligrams Offences. In comparison, at this point in 2014 Huron OPP had laid 18 charges. This significant increase (90%) in charges is troublesome and very concerning to our Huron OPP Detachment members.

Despite the year round public education and awareness efforts by Huron OPP, our local Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Chapter and our Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving (OSAID) groups the numbers don’t lie; too many drivers in Huron County continue to make a conscious decision to endanger others by operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Is it a generational problem? Is it only males that are driving drunk? When is it happening? Does it only take place out in the country?

An analysis of the Huron County OPP year-to-date Impaired/Over 80 Charges reveals some interesting data. Note: Actual #’s in parentheses

85% (29) of the charged drivers were male

76% (26) of the charged drivers were from Huron County

68% (23) of the stops took place during daylight hours (6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.)

62% (21) of the drivers charged were stopped in rural areas.

38% (13) of drivers charged were between the ages of 16 to 29. Of particular note, six (6) of those drivers were under the age of 22 (Young Drivers that are subject to a Zero Blood Alcohol Concentration).

33% (11) of drivers were between the ages of 30 to 49 and 26 % (9) were between the ages of 50 to 69.

15% (5) of the drivers charged were involved in motor vehicle collisions

Here is another key statistic that needs to be reinforced. 100% of the drivers charged received an automatic 90 day driver’s licence suspension & a future court date.

“It is very concerning to see such a drastic increase this year in the numbers of impaired drivers being charged in Huron County. Every single one of those drivers that were stopped and taken off the road posed a risk to our loved ones using the roadway.

Despite our ongoing public safety messaging, awareness campaigns, high levels of visibility, strict enforcement and our year-round commitment to the various Provincial Traffic Safety Programs, we are still seeing too many drivers placing themselves and others at risk by driving drunk. Any suggestion that drinking and driving is a just a way of life in rural Ontario or socially acceptable in Huron County is completely unacceptable and highly inexcusable. Impaired Driving is a serious criminal offence, one that places our community at great risk. Collectively, we can all make a positive difference in reducing the number of impaired drivers as we move forward in the year.”

– Huron County OPP Staff Sergeant – Shawn Johnson

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