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More and more young drivers being busted drinking and driving: OPP

THUNDER BAY -- Police in the region are disappointed that the next generation isn't getting the message when it comes to drinking and driving. As the Festive RIDE season kicked off Friday morning on Arthur Street, OPP Acting traffic Staff Sgt.
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OPP and Thunder Bay Police Service officers were on Arthur Street Friday afternoon to kick off the Festive RIDE season. (Jamie Smith, tbnewswatch.com)

THUNDER BAY -- Police in the region are disappointed that the next generation isn't getting the message when it comes to drinking and driving.

As the Festive RIDE season kicked off Friday morning on Arthur Street, OPP Acting traffic Staff Sgt. David Bell said nearly a dozen people in the Northwest have been charged with impaired driving in the past two weeks, many of them young drivers.

"It's very frustrating especially this year we're seeing a larger numbers of young drivers," he said. "We thought we were getting the message out to the younger drivers."

Thunder Bay Police Service Traffic Sgt. Glenn Porter said around the city, officers are seeing a similar problem.

"I can't really say why that is," he said adding studies will likely be done by the academic community sooner than later.

"It is a trend that we're watching."

RIDE programs will be more frequent throughout the holiday season.

The OPP will be changing its locations more often to try and keep up with having their traffic stops posted on social media almost as soon as they go up. Porter said they're also stepping up the campaign to stop drivers who may try to avoid RIDE programs.

"We're perfecting those techniques," he said.

Since 1985, RIDE programs have come a long way.

Bel said more recently drug recognition officers have come on scene as more people blend drugs and alcohol together in an evening.

"It's a changing society and we have to change with it," he said.





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