West Region OPP releases final numbers for Festive RIDE campaign

(LONDON, ON) - More enforcement, more charges. That's the end result of the 2023-24 Festive RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaign for the West Region OPP.

Officers with the 13 detachments conducted impaired-driving checkpoints at locations across southwestern Ontario as part of this year's campaign, which ran from Nov. 16, 2023, to Jan. 1, 2024.

This year's final campaign numbers are below in bold, compared to last year’s results which are in parentheses:
 

• Impaired Driving charges: 353 (278)
• Warn-Range suspensions: 55 (35)
• RIDE events: 2,446 (1,804)
• Number of vehicles that drove through a RIDE event: 13,197.

“The West Region OPP will continue efforts to get impaired drivers off the road, beyond the holiday season and throughout the year,” said inspector Mike McConnell, OPP West Region traffic and marine manager.

“Drivers can expect to see RIDE checkpoints in their area at any time. Impaired driving is one of the leading causes of death, injury and property damage on Ontario roadways, and it’s entirely preventable. If you plan to drink or take drugs, use a designated driver, a taxi or a ride-share service to get home safely.”

Detachment-specific Festive RIDE campaign numbers are in the chart below:



For more information about impaired driving penalties and terminology, visit: www.ontario.ca/page/impaired-driving.

The OPP remains committed to ensuring Ontario roads are safe from drug-impaired and alcohol-impaired drivers.

If you suspect an impaired driver, make that lifesaving call and dial 911.