The Ontario Provincial Police will stop and check more drivers over the coming weeks as its annual safe driving campaign ramps up for the holiday season.
Officers will be stopping drivers throughout Essex county to check for impairment — alcohol, drugs and even exhaustion. The Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere campaign aims at educating the public about safe transportation and reducing impaired drivers on the roads.
Since Monday OPP have stopped more than 1,000 vehicles in Leamington, Kingsville and Essex. Officers gave drivers three roadside impairment tests, resulting in one suspension.
The OPP can issue a license suspension to drivers whose blood alcohol concentration is in the “warn” range, between 0.05 and 0.08. Results higher than 0.08 lead to an arrest and an impaired driving charge.
Impaired driving remains the top cause of criminal deaths in Canada.
Police are asking the public to do its best to dissuade someone impaired by alcohol or drugs from driving. People who see someone who appears to be driving while impaired should call 911.
ctthompson@windsorstar.com or on Twitter @caroethompson
