Region of Peel – Peel Regional Police have concluded the 2017 Festive Season R.I.D.E. campaign and have tabulated the statistics for publication.
The Festive Season R.I.D.E. Campaign focuses on detecting and removing those individuals from our roads who choose to operate a motor vehicle while their ability to do so is impaired by alcohol and/or drugs. The campaign ran throughout the holiday season beginning Saturday, November 18, 2017, until Tuesday January 2, 2018.
Throughout the 2017 Festive R.I.D.E campaign, 24,129 motor vehicles were investigated throughout the Region of Peel. As a result of the campaign, a total of 191 drivers were arrested and charged with alcohol and/or drug related driving offences. In addition to the charged parties, a total of 197 drivers were issued Warn range drivers licence suspensions.
108 charges were laid in Mississauga and 83 charges were laid in Brampton. 152 were males and 39 were women. 66% of those charged were between the ages of 21 – 40 years-old
Inspector Paul Pogue from Road Safety Services of Peel Regional Police states, “It is simply unacceptable that police continue to identify significant numbers of individuals who continue to risk the lives of innocent road users and themselves by driving while impaired”. Moving forward in 2018, Peel Regional Police will continue to work with our partnering agencies to ensure that the education, enforcement and rules of the road continue throughout the year and emphasized during our festive ride campaigns”.
With respect to alcohol and drug related driving offences, there is a zero-tolerance policy and this commitment is reflected not only in the number of officers assigned to the festive R.I.D.E. campaign but through enforcement throughout the year.
Peel Regional Police would like to remind everyone that road safety is a shared responsibility. Please think before you drink and drive. It is not worth risking your life or the life of another person.