How Being a Proactive Driver/Citizen Helps Keep Roads Safe

OPP to Conduct Robust Festive RIDE Campaign

Orillia – With 45 people killed in impaired driving incidents on Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)-patrolled roads this year, the OPP is counting on drivers and citizens to help prevent further loss of life to this criminal behaviour – especially during the holiday season.

The OPP is already highly visible throughout the province, conducting Festive RIDE initiatives where they are checking for alcohol or drug impairment in drivers. Motorists – in particular those who are impaired – are seeing first-hand the methodical and meticulous detection and investigative process a police officer follows with their sophisticated set of tools and unparalleled expertise.

The OPP is reminding citizens that they are among its most valued safety partners, especially leading up to and during the holidays. With more than 16,000 calls to the OPP to report suspected impaired drivers this year, the OPP is praising these proactive citizens and encouraging people to continue making these important calls. By doing so, lives may be saved.

The OPP is also counting on citizens to help ensure that no one in their presence gets behind the wheel if they have consumed alcohol or taken drugs. The more people who do so, the fewer impaired drivers they will be sharing the road with.

The OPP thanks all drivers and citizens who do their part to help keep impaired drivers off our roads during the Festive RIDE campaign…and who continue to do so in the new year.

Please have a safe and happy holiday season!

DID YOU KNOW?

The Festive Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) campaign is led by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and runs from November 21 to January 1, 2025.