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Almost 1,000 deaths in alcohol-drug collisions in 15 years

Innocent victims are paying a heavy price in Ontario
impaired driving 1 turl
Photo by Jeff Turl.

Over the past 15 years, 987 people have died in preventable alcohol/drug-related collisions on OPP-patrolled roads says a news release this morning.

that's bad enough, but tragically, 47 per cent were innocent victims in these crashes, while the other 53 per cent were the at-fault impaired driver.

So far this year, 37 people have died in collisions linked to an alcohol or drug-impaired driver, 19 of whom were innocent victims.

2017 marks the fourth consecutive year that a higher number of innocent people were killed, than impaired drivers who caused the collision.   

The annual R.I.D.E. campaign gets underway this week.

"The staggering number of innocent people who die in alcohol or drug-related collisions tells us that minding our own business about impaired drivers is the wrong thing to do," says OPP Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair. "When you see an impaired driver on the road, call 9-1-1. If you are out with someone who is impaired and about to drive, present them with an alternative. If they proceed to drive, call 9-1-1. As difficult as it may be to report someone you know to police, living with the decision not to is far worse if that driver goes on to kill someone or themselves in a crash." 

When approaching a RIDE location, officer safety is paramount as they are standing in live lanes of traffic. When you see the flashing lights, slow down, proceed with caution, and allow the officers a safe distance from your vehicle.