Huron County motorists get the message during Festive RIDE program

(HURON COUNTY, ON) – The annual OPP Festive RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaign has officially come to an end and the numbers in Huron County show nearly all drivers did in fact “get the message”.    

Festive RIDE is a province-wide program to create visibility and increase awareness about the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. 
 

The highly-visible campaign began Nov. 23, 2015, and ran until Jan. 2, 2016. During this program, Huron County OPP officers conducted a total of 245 RIDE checks. This was the most of any OPP detachment in the province. Although the exact number of vehicles that entered these checkpoints is not known, it is safe to say there were thousands during the campaign.
 

Of those, Huron OPP officers charged a total of four drivers with Impaired Driving/Over-80 offences and another four were served with warn-range administrative driver’s license suspensions. Officers also identified other Highway Traffic Act, Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act, Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and Criminal Code offences at these checkpoints. 
 

Last year, Huron OPP charged 19 drivers with Impaired Driving/Over-80 offences and another three were served with warn-range administrative driver’s license suspensions.
 

Huron OPP is very encouraged to see the positive results from this year’s successful campaign. Looking into this year, officers will continue with their regular RIDE checkpoints in an effort to keep our roadways as safe as possible.