Launching the Festive R.I.D.E.

The Joint Forces Festive R.I.D.E. launch was held Friday at Wasi Corners.

The Media Services Coordinator for the Northeast Region of the OPP Carlo Berardi says the focus of the launch is to remind motorists not to drive while impaired whether it’s by drink or drug.

He says this year there have been 3 fatalities in the Northeast Region from impaired driving so far.

“Last year we had 4 for the entire year and the year before that we had one. We are going in the wrong direction and we still have a month to go. Hopefully, there are no other fatalities,” Berardi says.

One difference this year is that this is the first year that cannabis is legal but Berardi points out that won’t be a big adjustment in looking for impaired drivers.

“We’ve got charges for people impaired by drug over the last several years. Impaired is impaired whether it’s cannabis or alcohol or something else. Impaired is impaired and we’re out there detecting those impaired drivers and taking them off the road,” Berardi says.

The North Bay OPP says so far this this year there have been 42 impaired related charges and the year isn’t over yet.

Of Note: 11 have happened between midnight and 7 a.m., 14 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. and 17 between 5 p.m. and midnight.

The festive R.I.D.E. goes until January 2nd.