THUNDER BAY -- The Ontario Provincial Police wrapped up its festive Reduced Impaired Driving Everywhere campaign last weekend.
Officers from the Thunder Bay Detachment conducted 126 RIDE spot checks during the seven-week initiative and charged five people with impaired driving offences and three were issued warn range suspensions.
OPP officers across the province conducted more than 7,340 RIDE spot checks throughout the province and charged 610 drivers with impaired driving.
The campaign ended with a total of six people losing their lives in impaired driving-related incidents.
Five of the deaths involved a motor vehicle collision, while the sixth was off-road but vehicle related.
In a media release, OPP said over and above these tragic, preventable deaths, many innocent people were injured in about 270 collisions throughout the campaign and impaired driving was a factor.
An additional 388 drivers were issued warn range suspensions for driving with a blood-alcohol concentration between .05 and .08. Anywhere in this range can impair one’s ability to drive safely and poses a danger to others.
OPP want to remind motorists operating a vehicle under the influence of any amount of alcohol or drug is dangerous and endangers your own safety as well as the safety of others.
Thunder Bay OPP officers will continue to conduct RIDE programs throughout the year.
