With impaired driving occurrences up provincewide – and in Northumberland – OPP say they’re enhancing enforcement efforts, with hopes of saving more lives on the roads.
“Tragically, 385 people lost their lives in impaired driving-related collisions on OPP-patrolled roads between 2018 and the end of 2023,” said Sgt. Kerry Schmidt, with the OPP’s highway safety division, in a recent release. “During the same period, impaired driving-related collisions have steadily climbed, with 2023 marking a 31 per cent increase when compared to the numbers during the previous five years.
“Impaired driving charges are also up 33 per cent over the same six-year period.”
In Northumberland County, in the last year or so, OPP have laid more than 140 impaired driving charges, said Const. James Clarke, who also serves as Northumberland’s community safety/media officer. (Of note: Individuals can be charged with impaired driving and operation while impaired with a blood alcohol concentration of 80 plus.)
Meanwhile, collisions locally involving impairment in recent years – although down some – have been hovering between 27 and 38, explained Clarke.
These statistics are only related to OPP enforcement efforts – Northumberland has two other police services in Cobourg and Port Hope (for the urban area.)
However, locally, on OPP-patrolled roads, impaired driving occurrences had already surpassed 20 by mid-April.
OPP say the province-wide increases are “a clear sign that many drivers are not doing their part to keep fellow road users safe.”
Last year alone, OPP reported some 2,049 collisions involving impairment across its divisions, with 33 of these incidents involving fatalities.
Heading into mid-April, fatal crashes involving impairment were hovering around seven on OPP-patrolled roads.
Of the 70-plus fatal crashes so far, 14 of those have been in the Central Region OPP catchment area (which includes Northumberland), with two of those 14 alcohol and drug-related, explained Clarke.
Further provincial statistics for the year so far include more than 400 collisions, with six impaired-related (these include property damage and non-fatal injury crashes), according to reports.
Clarke has echoed concerns, describing rates as “alarming.”
In other words, motorists should expect a continued emphasis on road safety and enforcement efforts – also considering speeding incidents appear to be on the rise in Northumberland.
Between April 15 and 21 alone, Northumberland OPP reported laying some 75 speeding charges, with six of those for stunt driving.
Meanwhile, year-to-date speeding charges in Northumberland tallied more than 280 into mid-April. Again, a number of those charges are related to stunt driving, said Clarke.
As OPP ramp up enforcement efforts, motorists are being reminded they may be asked to provide a breath sample during traffic stops – and how under Canada’s Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS) law, drivers must comply with an officer’s demand, “even in the absence of any suspicion that they have consumed alcohol.”
OPP said MAS remains an effective measure for enhancing police’s ability to detect and investigate impaired drivers and remove them from the roads.
Clarke continues to urge all motorists to plan ahead – any alternative is better than getting behind the wheel and putting lives at risk, emphasized Clarke.
Drivers should expect to continue to see more RIDE checks throughout the year, and not just the festive/seasonal efforts.
Citizens who suspect impaired driving are urged to not hesitate and call 911 and report it, said police.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
