(NOTTAWASAGA, ON)- The Nottawasaga Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have wrapped up their Festive R.I.D.E (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) which encompassed the time frame from November 23 to January 2, 2014.
This season Members of the Nottawasaga OPP were out 24/7 conducting R.I.D.E programs in our three townships at 104 different locations keeping our drivers and the motoring public safe from impaired driving. We enjoy working alongside our communities, as road safety is a shared responsibility between the community and police, with the common goal of reducing impaired drivers on our roadways.
The total number of vehicles stopped at the Festive R.I.D.E programs tallied in at 11,037 which is quite a substantial number. From those vehicle stops, Police conducted 83 roadside screening device tests, charged nine drivers with impaired driving offences and issued 14 drivers with 3-day warn range suspensions.
While Officers are usually looking for signs of impaired driving, they are vigilant with regards to noticing other signs of impairment; this vigilance shows during the Festive R.I.D.E. season by Nottawasaga OPP charging 40 drivers with Controlled Drug and Substance Act (CDSA) charges.
Nottawasaga OPP investigated 972 motor vehicle collisions throughout the 2013 year, 14 were alcohol-related motor vehicle collisions. During the Festive R.I.D.E. season, there were a total of three (3) alcohol-related collisions.
Inspector Cockburn comments by saying “The vast majority of driver’s understand the importance of not drinking and driving, but unfortunately, we still have a few drivers that are not getting the message, this is where the community and Police must remain vigilant to keep our roads safe for everyone to travel.â€
Detachment Commander Inspector Dirk Cockburn would like to thank and recognize Nottawasaga area drivers who kept everyone safe over the holidays by driving sober, as well as those who arranged for designated drivers and made alternate arrangements for getting home during their holiday celebrations.