OPP Festive RIDE Campaign
Ontario Provincial Police are urging drivers to make safe choices this holiday season as impaired driving charges climb during the annual Festive RIDE campaign. OPP Constable Andrew Gamble says officers in Norfolk County and across Ontario are working around the clock to stop impaired drivers before lives are lost.
Gamble says even one impaired driving incident is too many, and officers will continue 24-7 patrols and roadside checks to keep roads safe.
He adds that the consequences are severe: if you drink or use drugs, do not get behind the wheel.
He also warns that many drivers mistakenly believe they are safe to drive the morning after a night of drinking. “People can still be impaired many hours after their last drink,” he says, noting that West Region has already laid charges in several next-morning cases this year. Gamble notes that young drivers are also taking dangerous risks.
The OPP reminds motorists that RIDE checks can happen anytime—morning, afternoon, or night
Sober drivers have nothing to worry about, and officers aim to ensure everyone enjoys a safe holiday season.
Across West Region, police conducted 1,055 RIDE checks in the first two weeks of the campaign, laying 95 impaired driving charges and 39 warn-range suspensions. Provincewide, officers have issued 409 impaired driving charges in 3,595 RIDE events since November 20.
The Festive RIDE campaign runs until January 1, and police encourage the public to call 9-1-1 if they suspect an impaired driver.