Amid uptick in fatal impaired-driving crashes, OPP pledge more enforcement

Facing a surge of impaired driving cases, Ontario Provincial Police are stepping up the effort to combat the potentially deadly crime.

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Impaired driving fatalities jumped 31 per cent between 2018 and 2023, when there were 385 fatalities on OPP-patrolled roads across the province, and cases of police laying impaired driving charges also increased by 33 per cent during the six-year period, the OPP said.

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“The increases are a clear sign that many drivers are not doing their part to keep fellow road users safe,” police said in a statement released on Tuesday. “Motorists are reminded to be prepared to provide a breath sample during a traffic stop.”

Ontario law requires drivers to provide a breath sample when requested by police, even during encounters where there’s no suspicion that they’ve consumed any alcohol.

The OPP reminded motorists that Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) checkpoints will continue to be rolled out throughout the year and drivers should be prepared to provide a breath sample to officers at these stops.

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In the OPP’s west region, an area that encompasses Southwestern Ontario, more than 13,000 vehicles passed through a RIDE program during the holiday campaign that ran from Nov. 15 to Jan. 1.

Police set up 2,446 checkpoints during the 47-day campaign, up from 1,804 during the previous season, OPP said.

In addition to warning drivers about the enhanced efforts to crack down on impaired driving, police are also asking the public to call 911 if they suspect a passing driver may be impaired.

“By doing so, you could be saving a life,” police said.

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