OPP warn of impaired driving dangers as 2023 winds down

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With 2024 winding down and New Year’s Eve on the horizon, the Ontario Provincial Police are again warning about the dangers of impaired driving.

In a video released on X (formerly Twitter), Sgt. Kerry Schmidt, the online face of the OPP’s Highway Safety Division, said more than 1,200 charges have been laid during the seven-week-long Festive RIDE campaign around the province.

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OPP officers were involved with more than 10,000 RIDE events that amounted to more than 21,000 hours.

“When you look at the average over the last five years, we’re seeing an increase of impaired driving occurrences year over year over year,” Schmidt said. “This year, compared to last year, we’re seeing an increase of 16% of impaired driving occurrences. We are seeing a 10% increase in impaired driving collisions.”

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In 2023, the OPP have laid more than 10,000 impaired driving charges, according to Schmidt. In the last week alone, 215 charges were laid.

Additionally, the OPP says 397 people have died in motor vehicle collisions in 2023, with 49 of those a result of alcohol or drug-related crashes. In 2022, 319 people died in road crashes, significantly less than this year.

“We have not seen 400 road fatalities since 2004,” Schmidt said. “With a few days remaining (in 2023), I don’t want to see us break that 400 number. Let’s get through to the new year without another single fatality.”

“Do your part, be a better driver. Please, drive safe,” he added.

Schmidt also reminded people to drive according to the road conditions, and even though the roads in the GTA are currently clear of ice and snow, to slow down.

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