A handful of local police services are launching their Festive R.I.D.E. program together.
Grey Bruce and South Bruce OPP along with partners from the Hanover Police Service, West Grey Police Service, Saugeen Shores Police Service, and the Owen Sound Police Service, are all launching their Festive Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere campaigns on December 1. Representatives from those police services will be at the MTO lanes on Highway 6 just south of Owen Sound at 2 p.m. to launch the event, which is geared at taking alcohol/drug-impaired drivers off the roads through enforcement and public education during the holidays.
Between January 1, 2022 and October 31, 2022, South Bruce OPP laid 73 impaired driving charges. That represents a 13 per cent decline from 84 charges laid in the same time frame in 2021.
"A 13% decline in impaired driving charges is a positive trend. However, the 73 charges laid represents 73 drivers that could have seriously injured or killed someone that you love had police not intervened. We are proud to join our policing partners across Grey and Bruce Counties to send a unified message that impaired driving will not be tolerated. The Festive RIDE campaign is a great way to call attention to our road safety commitment that runs all year long," said Inspector Krista Miller, Detachment Commander, South Bruce OPP.