Festive drinking and driving on the rise: OPP

Results from the Ontario Provincial Police's Festive RIDE program across eastern Ontario indicate the number of charges related to drinking and driving has doubled compared to the previous year.

The OPP says the RIDE program, which ran from November 25, 2011 to January 1, 2012, "has wrapped up with some sobering results."

Police did not track the number of vehicles or drivers checked this year, as it has previously, but the OPP says it is concerned about the number of charges compared to the same time period in 2010.

Across eastern Ontario, the number of impaired/over 0.08/refusal charges went from 51 in 2010 to 103 in 2011. Warn range suspensions, issued to drivers with a blood-alcohol level between 0.05 and 0.08, also increased: from 77 in 2010 to 83 in 2011.

Specifically, in Hawkesbury, seven people were charged with impaired or refusal charges and another three for warn-range suspensions. In Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, 11 people were charged for impaired driving or refusal and another four with suspensions.

"It is very disturbing that so many people decided to risk not only their life, but also their family, friends and others sharing the road this holiday season," stated Insp. Dave Springer, the east region manager of traffic and marine safety. "This is unacceptable. OPP officers across the region will continue to focus on those who have decided to endanger others on our highways."

The OPP would like to thank everyone who made the right choice to not get behind the wheel after drinking.