Lakefield Herald Special Report

PLCPS launches 2013 RIDE program

Beginning February 3 (Superbowl Sunday) the Traffic Management Serivces (TMS) of the Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service commenced the 2013 edition of the Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (R.I.D.E) program.

Locations will vary throughout the City and Village of Lakefield, aimed at keeping our streets and community safe.

In addition to the stationary locations everyone is accustomed to, the TMS will be deploying a roving team of officers.

In 2011, police reported 90,277 impaired driving incidents, about 3,000 more than in 2010 The rate of impaired driving increased for the fourth time in five years, up 2% in 2011 and was at its highest point in a decade.

Ontario reported the lowest impaired driving rate (130 per 100,000 population). The rate of impaired driving causing death dropped 29% in 2011, reaching its lowest point in over 25 years.

The average Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of those charged with impaired driving in 2010 ranged from 144 to 169 mgs, about twice the legal limit of 80 mg per 100 ml of blood.

According to the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (2009), impaired drivers with a BAC over 160 mg/100 ml represented close to 70% of impaired drivers killed in car crashes.

In July 2008, Criminal Code provisions came into force allowing police to perform compulsory roadside analyses and assessments of drivers suspected of drug impairment.

In 2011, 1,886 incidents of drug-impaired driving were reported by police, 157 more than the previous year. In 2011, the highest impaired driving rates were recorded for those aged 20 – 24 with 82% of those being male.

However, rates for males are declining while rates for females are on the increase.

Fifty per cent of impaired driving incidents reported by police take place between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. The peak is usually reached between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m.

Although the stats for impaired driving in Ontario are decreasing, there is still work to be done to continue this trend.

The TMS will continue to operate R.I.D.E programs throughout the year in an effort to continue to keep our roads in the City of Peterborough and the Village of Lakefield safe for all who use them.

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