The OPP have launched their Festive RIDE campaign, the first one since marijuana was legalized.
At a news conference in Barrie today, OPP Deputy Commissioner Rose DiMarco said officers are as prepared to deal with drug impaired drivers over the holidays as those who are impaired by alcohol.
DiMarco said provincial police have more than 120 Drug Recognition Experts and more than 800 officers trained to carry out standard field sobriety tests.
Up until the end of October this year, the OPP laid more than 6,700 impaired driving charges across the province, 283 of which were impaired by drugs.
The campaign also kicked off with the emotional story of Sheryl Caissie(CASEY), who recently lost her husband and was personally injured in a collision with a suspected drunk driver.
Caissie said she lost her husband, best friend and the person she shared her life with on a daily basis, and added that “a piece of her life is missing.”
She said her husband was a scout leader and a member of the military who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan.
The collision resulted in Caissie suffering a severe foot injury and she also needed reconstructive surgery.
She decided to share her story in the hope it would stop others from getting behind the wheel impaired.
Caissie said one person's choice and actions have caused a lot of suffering, sadness and hurt.
