The Grey-Bruce OPP are once again sounding off on the dangers and risks of impaired driving following a recent RIDE program arrest.
The OPP shared via the OPP West Region Twitter account an image following the arrest of a driver who was stopped and charged recently, with the image showing piles of empty alcohol cans in the passenger seat. Media Relations Officer Nicholas Wilson says impaired driving unfortunately continues to be a problem that police have been addressing for many years.
“In Grey-Bruce here, we continue to see a number of drivers that are being charged with impaired-related offences, both with alcohol-related impairment, as well as drug-related impairment,” Wilson shared.
Officer Wilson says RIDE programs continue to be done a lot in the evening hours and late at night, but police are conducting daytime RIDE programs quite often now, too, and are still catching drivers impaired by both drugs and alcohol at all hours of the day.
“When you see us conducting RIDE programs during the day, a big thing to take into consideration, especially in the morning, is if you go out and you’re at a party, let’s say, and you’re consuming alcohol until 3 or 4 a.m. in the morning, and then you get up at 8 or 9 a.m. and drive, although you may physically feel okay, you have to remember that there is a very good possibility, obviously depending on a number of factors, that you may still be above the legal limit,” explained Wilson.
Unfortunately, impaired driving continues to be a significant problem on the roadways, despite police and numerous anti-impaired driving safety group’s calls to stop the dangerous practice. Wilson also says if you see a suspected impaired driver or know that someone is driving impaired, you should immediately call 9-1-1 to report it.
“We consider that an emergency. It puts the lives of other motorists at risk, it puts the lives of pedestrians at risk and it puts the lives of the driver at risk, so, 100 percent, an impaired driver would be a straight call to 9-1-1,” concluded Wilson.
Sometimes we get asked “why do you conduct RIDE programs during the day?” – This is why. 61-year-old accused entered #GreyBruceOPP RIDE program at 5:23 p.m. Arrested for impaired operation, 8 driving related suspensions, property obtained by crime, and several HTA charges. ^nw pic.twitter.com/zr8zSt0urG
— OPP West Region (@OPP_WR) February 13, 2023
