The number of motorists charged with impaired driving in Huron County increased for the third year in a row. 102 drivers were charged with impaired in 2021, up from 93 the year before. That is a 10% spike.
The report said 41% of all impaired driving charges involved some type of collision, with two of them fatal. 63% of charges were thanks to a tip from the public. And almost half of the impaired drivers had more than double the legal limit of alcohol in their blood. Men accounted for 81% of the drivers charged, with 37% of impaired motorists under the age of 30, including 9 teens.
Across the region, the highest number of impaired drivers were caught in Bluewater, at 21, while North Huron and Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh had the lowest number of incidents of impaired driving. 45% of impaired strivers were stopped between 6 p.m. and midnight, and 36% between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. One third of the drivers charged were not residents of Huron County.
30 drivers were stopped operating a pickup truck, 55 were stopped operating a passenger automobile, 12 other vehicle type, two motorcycle drivers, two All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) operators, and one on a motorized snow vehicle. 23% of drivers were charged with impaired operation by drug. The report said Huron County OPP has a trained Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) and numerous officers trained in Standard Field Sobriety Testing (SFST).
"Impaired driving remains one of the highest priority issues for the Huron County OPP detachment. Despite our efforts and the efforts of dedicated community groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving (OSAID) some drivers continue to make a dangerous decision to drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs. We remain fully committed to doing everything possible to ensure our roadways, waterways and trails are free of impaired drivers," said Huron OPP Detachment Commander, Inspector Jason Younan.
The busiest month for impaired operation charges was November (15) and the month with the least was May (3).