Sadly, the holidays were still the season to drink and drive.
West Region OPP released their RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaign statistics Thursday for the roads they patrol across much of rural and small-town Southwestern Ontario.
The total number of RIDE checkpoints was 1,904, up from 1,243 the year before. Police ugly 278 impaired driving charges during the random roadside blitz. That’s only two fewer charges than last year. There were also 49 warn range license suspensionsdown from 55 the year before.
Middlesex County and Oxford County were tied with the most charges — 43 each. Essex was the runner up with 29 charges.
The fewest charges were in South Bruce with four and Huron with seven.
Police warned drivers about the blitz before the holiday season in December. At the time, impaired driving crashes had killed 27 people in 2022 – up from 14 by this time last year – and injured 158 others on roads in the OPP’s West Region, according to police statistics.
“If you plan on drinking or consuming drugs, make your plan not to drive,” acting Insp. Ross Stuart said. “Come up with an alternative: arrange for a designated driver, take public transit or call a taxi.”
At sobriety checkpoints, police are allowed to demand a roadside breath sample without having a reasonable suspicion that a motorist is impaired, said Stuart. Novice drivers can have their vehicles impounded automatically if they’re found to have any alcohol in their systems.