According to the OPP, the Civic Holiday long weekend is one of the busiest travel times of the summer, and officers are set to patrol area highways and waterways.
Provincial Constable Samantha Bigley said drivers and boaters can expect to see police officers out conducting RIDE programs to educate the public about the risks associated with impaired driving.
“Impaired driving does continue to impact our communities in a really significant way,” she said.
She said impaired driving includes both alcohol and drugs, adding that even certain prescription medications can affect a person’s ability to safely operate a vehicle.
“Just in the last six weeks or so, 18 drivers have been charged with impaired driving on Bracebridge Detachment Area roads, and that’s quite significant,” said Bigley. “Many of those involved collisions, which increases the risk to public safety.”
Between July 21 and 26, six drivers were charged with impaired operation on Muskoka roads, including three in a span of less than 24 hours in Bracebridge.
Bigley said that in addition to RIDE programs on roads and highways, officers will also be patrolling lakes and waterways by boat throughout the long weekend.
“If you’re found operating a vessel while impaired, and that includes non-motorized, you will suffer the same consequences if you’re driving a motor vehicle,” she said.
Officers will also be watching for proper seatbelt usage and enforcing Ontario’s Move Over law — with drivers mandated to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles, tow trucks and other vehicles with emergency lights activated.
