OPP remains concerned about driving while impaired

While there were more impaired driving arrests this holiday season, the total number of arrests was comparable to past year with 1,371 in 2014 to 1,364 in 2015.

“The annual Festive RIDE program may be over, but I can assure you that OPP officers will remain diligent with their focus on impaired drivers by conducting RIDE stops in various random locations every day across this province”.

They say ending impaired driving will continue to be a goal for the Toronto Police Service and, with the support of the public, to keep the roads of Toronto safe for all road-users.

Police also took the release of these numbers as a chance to warn drivers about impaired driving. That was down from 862 in 2014 and the same as 2013, when 802 impaired charges were laid.

Schmidt said officers are seeing more cases of drivers impaired by drugs.

One encouraging stat, according to the chief: 17 novice drivers were given 24-hour suspensions for breaching their no-alcohol condition, a big reduction from the 117 suspensions issued previous year.

Four other drivers were given roadside tests, which determined that none of them were over the legal blood-alcohol limit.

Anyone with information about an impaired driving case is asked to contact police at 416-808-1900 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

This year, police across Ontario teamed up with MADD Canada to use social media to end drunk driving. Just as predictably, dozens ignored that message and now face impaired charges.