North Bay OPP has so far charged more people for impaired driving so far this year overall of 2018.
As of December 13th, 69 people have been charged compared to 49 for all of last year.
Constable Marie Ford, the OPP’s Media Relations Officer, says this year’s number includes people also charged for impaired by drugs.
There is no breakdown available for how many impaired charges are due to alcohol and how many were the result of someone consuming drugs and then deciding to drive.
Ford says police agencies are always concerned about impaired driving but says 69 is a very large number.
It’s also approaching the total number of impaired driving charges of 71 laid in all of 2017.
“And we still have a large chunk of the festive part of December to go through,” she said.
“Five (impaired drivers) is too many. And one is too many. So yes there is a concern especially when the numbers are increasing and not decreasing.”
Ford says there is “absolutely no excuse for getting behind the wheel after having consumed alcohol or drugs” because there are many alternatives to getting home after a night of festivities.
She says people can get a taxi, use public transit, call someone who is sober to drive them home, have a designated driver or even staying put.
Ford says last year 56 people across Ontario died on OPP patrolled highways as a result of someone being impaired by alcohol or drugs.
She says police are constantly “thinking of new ways to get the numbers down”.
She adds police agencies regularly use social media nowadays to get their message across on the dangers of impaired driving in addition to the traditional methods of talking to kids at school, being part of MADD and advertising through the media.
“We’re always delivering that message of how dangerous it is and how much we rely on the public to report (impaired driving) to us,” she said.
“That’s what we do and will continue to do. It’s not going to stop by us whether the numbers drop or not. We want to be at zero. That’s our hope.”
Ford says there are many people who don’t drink or take drugs and then drive and she’s thankful for that.
Ford says in addition to impaired by drugs being added to this year’s figures, there may be another reason why the number of impaired charges is up.
Recent legislation lets police randomly stop motorists and ask for a breath sample.
She says in the past the police had to have grounds or believe the person had consumed alcohol.
But she says the mandatory alcohol screening legislation is allowing officers to test more motorists and refusing to provide a sample can result in charges.
Ford is also reminding the motoring public that although police are regularly out with their programs to catch impaired drivers like R.I.D.E. (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) this is the time of year they really ramp up their checks.
And the increased checks will continue until January 2nd.
Ford adds the public is encouraged to keep calling 911 when they see impaired driving activity, a practice many people have embraced.