Despite the warnings that officers would be highly visible during the holidays, the number of Ontario motorists charged with impaired driving is the highest it has been compared to the last eight holiday R.I.D.E. campaigns.
Across the province close to 700 Ontarians were charged with having a blood alcohol level over .08. Police also issued more than 600 impaired driving suspensions during the five week program.
In Essex County, the OPP issued nine suspensions, but there were no impaired driving charges. Outside of the festive R.I.D.E. campaign, it was a different story.
“We had 13 people charged (over the same five weeks),” says OPP Const. Stephanie Moniz. “So that is alarming. Anything over zero is alarming. We have to work to get that number down.”
Almost a year ago, Visar Lluhani lost his brother 24-year-old Sharri, who was the passenger in a truck that crashed into a parked trailer on Riverside Drive. The female driver was charged with impaired driving causing death. Her case is still going through the courts.
“I miss him so much, not a day goes by (that I don’t think of him)," says Lluhani.
Jan. 29 will mark the first anniversary of his brother's tragic death. It has been a hard year for the family.
“First birthday without (him), first New Year’s. It seems like it's all fresh still,” says Lluhani.
Regardless of the recent stats, MADD Canada believes they're on the right track.
“Stats may be high, but it's because of enforcement,” says Chaouki Hamka, Windsor and Essex County MADD community leader. “When people don't see numbers drop, they think it’s not working, but overall, people are getting the message. Enforcement has gone up. They are tackling impaired driving so more people are getting caught.”
The OPP says it will continue to conduct R.I.D.E. programs, as will Windsor police. That’s good news to Hamka, who says they are effective and continue to act as a deterrent.
