Over 500 drivers across the province, including almost 150 in the local region, were slapped with impaired driving charges following the Ontario Provincial Police's 2018 holiday RIDE program.
The initiative ran from November 23 to January 2 and OPP officers in southwestern Ontario charged 135 drivers with either impaired driving or refusing a breath test. The OPP conducted a total of 1,584 spot checks across the area from Windsor to London on OPP-patrolled roads. Police also said 110 drivers on those same OPP-patrolled roads blew an alcohol warning and were charged. The West Region OPP added that 10 drivers were charged with drug impaired driving or refusing testing.
"The new year presents all motorists with the opportunity to play their part in traffic safety," said Superintendent Catherine Yeandle-Slater, director of operations with West Region OPP. "Together, we can reduce those numbers and create safer roadways across our region."
Province-wide, 10,270 RIDE stops resulted in 539 alcohol and drug-impaired charges and 384 drivers issued suspensions for registering a warn range during a breathalyzer test.
Last year, the OPP charged 587 drivers with alcohol and drug-impaired driving, issued 366 warn range suspensions, and conducted 9,830 RIDE stops.
Police said there were 42 alcohol and drug-related deaths on OPP-patrolled roads in 2018.
The OPP is reminding drivers that police can now demand a roadside breath sample from any lawfully stopped driver without first having to suspect the motorist has been drinking. Under the new legislation, drivers impaired by alcohol now also face higher mandatory minimum fines and some higher maximum penalties.