November 21, 2024

Festive RIDE program rolls out November 21

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) West Region officers are joining forces with their municipal policing counterparts to combat impaired driving this holiday season, as the annual Festive RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaign rolls out across southwestern Ontario.

Festive RIDE is an annual police enforcement and education initiative aimed at taking impaired drivers off Ontario roads during the holiday season. This year's Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police Festive RIDE Campaign runs from November 21, 2024, to January 1, 2025.

Drivers can expect a heightened OPP presence on West Region roads and highways, in addition to the highly visible and dedicated efforts made by our municipal policing partners, as officers conduct RIDE checks 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week throughout the province.

The Festive RIDE campaign closes out enhanced West Region OPP efforts to combat impaired driving this year. To date in 2024, West Region members have conducted 10,170 RIDE check events in all 13 detachment areas, compared to 8487 RIDE check events in 2023 (20% increase).

So far in 2024, 10 people have lost their lives in alcohol/drug related collisions in West Region, compared to 24 deaths in 2023, (58% decrease). West Region members have laid over 2,384 impaired driving charges to date in 2024, compared to 2,369 charges over the same timeframe in 2023 (1%increase). Detachment-specific impaired driving statistics are attached to this release.

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) remains committed to ensuring Ontario roads are safe from drug-impaired and alcohol-impaired drivers. Ontario citizens are reminded to do their part during the campaign by never driving after consuming alcohol or drugs and never letting anyone else drive if you know or suspect that they have consumed either. Drivers are reminded that no amount of alcohol or drugs in your system is safe when driving.

If you suspect an impaired driver, make that lifesaving call and dial 9-1-1.

For more information concerning the consequences and penalties of impaired driving, please visit the Province of Ontario website.

 

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