THUNDER BAY — The 2020 Festive RIDE program saw close to 60 drivers charged with impaired driving offences in northwestern Ontario.
According to preliminary data released by Ontario Provincial Police on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 14 people were issued warn range suspensions and 44 people were charged with impaired, driving with blood alcohol over 80 milligrams or refusal to provide sample.
Police conducted 727 RIDE events in the region during this year's program.
The number of impaired driving offences are slightly down from 2019, according to OPP.
“If you were to compare us with the rest of the province and the population that we serve we would be considered above average for impaired drivers,” OPP spokesperson Sgt. Mike Golding said in a statement.
In 2019, 1,115 RIDE events were conducted and a total of 61 motorists were charged with impaired driving offences in northwestern Ontario.
Throughout the province this year, close to 6,700 RIDE events were conducted and 590 motorists were charged with alcohol and drug-impaired driving in Ontario.
