RIDE kicks off campaign.
The combined forces of police services from across southern Ontario launched their 2009/2110 holiday R.I.D.E checks on Nov. 26 with a presentation and spot check at Humber College. Here, student Allison Rheaume volunteers to take a breathalizer test by OPP constable Marilyn Reynolds for the cameras.
Staff photo/ IAN KELSO
This year's Holiday RIDE campaign launched Thursday, Nov. 26, as officers from Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, York, Hamilton and South Simcoe convened with their counterparts from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) at Humber College to conduct spot checks.Humber president John Davies said he was "delighted" to put forth the college's efforts toward public safety in the community.
"It's important to get the message out to youth and members of our community that drinking and driving is not acceptable," he said, in a statement, of the strong message RIDE, which stands for Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere, sends to the public.
According to provincial statistics, 271 people have died on OPP-patrolled roadways this year - 42 of whom died in alcohol-related collisions.
During the five-week RIDE initiative last year, OPP officers stopped 884,729 vehicles at roadside checkpoints. As a result, 319 people were arrested and charged with criminal code alcohol-related offences. Officers also issued a total of 784 12-hour suspensions and issued 353 ninety-day Administrative Drivers Licence Suspensions.
"Drinking and driving is a serious threat to public safety and remains the leading cause of criminal death in Canada. The tragic loss of life and the burden on the health care system that results touches every one of us at some point in our lives," OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino said in a statement.
This year's annual OPP Festive RIDE campaign will be in effect from Nov. 27 through to Jan. 2.