NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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The Sault Ste. Marie Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Festive RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaign is now in full swing. It started on Nov. 23, 2019 and runs until Jan. 2, 2020.
The Festive RIDE campaign is an annual police enforcement and education initiative aimed at taking impaired drivers of the roads during the holiday season.
This season, police have new drug screening equipment that can detect marijuana and cocaine in a driver's saliva. They also have the power to demand a breath test without having reasonable suspicion the driver has alcohol in their system.
Police would like to remind the motoring public that officer safety is also paramount. When approaching a RIDE program, be mindful that officers will be standing in live lanes of traffic. When you see flashing lights, slow down and approach with caution and allow the officers a safe distance from your vehicle.
STATS:
- In 2018, 56 people were killed in alcohol/drug related collisions on OPP patrolled roads.
- Close to 600 people have died on OPP patrolled roads in the past 10 years that involved alcohol or drug impaired drivers.
- Every day, on average, four Canadians are killed and 175 injured in impaired-related collisions.
"If you plan on drinking or consuming drugs, plan not to drive. Instead, arrange for a designated driver, take a taxi/Uber or public transit. Let's work together and take impaired drivers off the roads" Staff Sergeant Manuela Byrnes
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