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In another sign the holiday season is are upon us, the Ottawa Police Service was set to kick off its RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) program Thursday night.
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Along with partners such as RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police, MADD Ottawa and the Ottawa Insurance Brokers Association, the program is intended to ensure drivers celebrate the season responsibly and keep the roads safe.
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As usual, RIDE checkpoints will be set up at various times throughout the city.
“We all have a responsibility to keep our roads safe,” said Acting-Sgt. Amy Gagnon of the Ottawa Police Service impaired countermeasures section. “We want everyone to make it home safely to their loved ones, and we are asking our community to drive sober and plan a ride home.”
In a release Thursday, police noted that 752 drivers had been charged with impaired driving-related offences in Ottawa so far this year, about one-third of them as a result of 911 calls.
As of early November, there had been 12 fatal or life-threatening collisions in 2024 where alcohol or drugs were determined to be factors (out of 195 total collisions).
“If you are going to consume alcohol or cannabis, plan a safe ride home, like a designated driver, a taxi, rideshare or public transit,” police said.
Police remind drivers that, since 2018, officers can demand that a driver provide a breath sample into an approved screening device without first suspecting that the driver has been drinking.
If you suspect someone is driving impaired, call 911. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppers.ca
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