Members from the Bruce Peninsula Ontario Provincial Police, along with OPP officers across Ontario, will kick off the festive "Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere" (R.I.D.E.) campaign on November 24, 2017.

Over the past 15 years (since 2003), 987 people have died throughout the Province in preventable alcohol/drug-related collisions on OPP-patrolled roads. Tragically, 464 (47 per cent) of the 987 deceased were innocent victims in these crashes, while the other 523 (53 per cent) were the at-fault impaired driver. So far this year, 37 people have died in collisions linked to an alcohol or drug-impaired driver, 19 of who were innocent victims. Sadly, 2017 marks the fourth consecutive year to see a higher number of innocent people killed than impaired drivers who caused the collision.

With the annual Festive R.I.D.E. campaign getting underway this week, the OPP wants road users to take away an important message from their traffic fatality data.

"The staggering number of innocent people who die in alcohol or drug-related collisions tells us that minding our own business about impaired drivers is the wrong thing to do. When you see an impaired driver on the road, call 9-1-1. If you are out with someone who is impaired and about to drive, present them with an alternative. If they proceed to drive, call 9-1-1. As difficult as it may be to report someone you know to police, living with the decision not to is far worse if that driver goes on to kill someone or themselves in a crash." - OPP Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair, Provincial Commander, Traffic Safety and Operational Support.

source: media release, Bruce Peninsula OPP