You still won’t stop drinking and driving. The RIDE program officially ended at midnight on January 2nd and these were the results.

•  The OPP nabbed 1,200 drivers
•  In Toronto 217 suspensions were issued and 55 drinking-related charges were laid
•  In Ontario, 334 people have been charged with alcohol-related offences, and another 842 received license suspensions
•  On New Year’s Eve alone, the OPP issued 40 driving suspensions, arrested 13 motorists on impaired driving charges, and laid 148 other charges

What part about NO DRINKING AND DRIVING do these people have trouble understanding? The problem drinkers are so hardcore that the new feature of the RIDE program this year was the institution of an early morning shift created to catch drunk drivers on their way to work. It just boggles the mind!

Although we tend to focus on drinking and driving as a “holiday problem”, the sad truth is that it is an ongoing problem. As a result OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino will continue the RIDE program all year round. This year the RIDE program will conduct spot checks on a daily basis so that hopefully we can make a real difference in getting drunk drivers off the road and punishing them for their crime. Yes, drunk driving is a crime. In 2007 there were 80 alcohol-related deaths and that is just plain murder.

If you see a drunk driver on the road or see a drunken person get into a car and drive away, please call the OPP immediately at 1-888-310-1122 or visit the OPP website by following the link below.
http://www.opp.ca/english.htm