Festive RIDE program for 2014 launched in Harrowsmith

Nov 27, 2014

Staff at the Frontenac OPP detachment in Hartington launched their annual Festive RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) program on November 24 and set up an inaugural RIDE stop in Harrowsmith to make drivers aware of the importance of driving sober and safe during the upcoming holiday season.

The program takes place across the province and on November 24 three staff members from the Frontenac OPP detachment in Hartington, Sergeant Jean James, and Constables Buff Chadwick and Roop Sandhu were pulling over drivers in front of St. Patrick's Catholic school in Harrowsmith for the first day of the drive, which will continue until January 2, 2015.

Staff Sergeant Sharron Brown, who spoke with press at the Hartington detachment, highlighted the aims of the program, which are primarily to focus on impaired driving but also to discourage and penalize aggressive and distracted drivers as well as those violating seat belt laws.

Sgt. Brown said that while impaired driving is down 40% from this same time last year, she believes that one impaired driver on the road is one too many. “It's heartening to see that people are getting the message that the only way to drive is to drive sober.” Community Services Officer, Constable Roop Sandhu, shared some statistics that show the fatalities resulting from impaired driving in Ontario were down from 72 in 2013 to 42 in 2014. Similarly, as of September 2014 a total of 5685 impaired driving charges were laid as compared to 6848 in that same period in 2013, a drop of 17 per cent.

While the number show improvements Sgt. Brown said that the best way to drive safe is to have a plan in place. “We at the Frontenac OPP wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season and for that to happen people need to ensure that they have a plan in place before they engage in any activities that may affect their ability to drive. They should arrange either to have a designated driver, plan to take a taxi or else make plans to stay the night,” she said. She also stressed the fact that "No amount of alcohol or drugs are a safe amount when it comes to operating a motor vehicle.”

Drivers who are found to be impaired at any of the RIDE stops, which will be taking place anywhere and at any hour, will be charged with a criminal offense and depending on the seriousness of the offense, will lose their license for a minimum of one year upon conviction. Sgt. Brown said that there have been numerous fatalities as a result of impaired driving during her 26 years on the force and she spoke of the huge ramifications of a serious accident. “In accidents that are the result of impaired driving, it is never just one single person who is involved and it is never an easy thing to have notify family members that one of their loved ones has been involved in this kind of an accident. Our goal through the Festive RIDE program is to make sure that everyone reaches their destinations safely during this holiday season.”