OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 7, 2010) - In a continuing effort to promote safer roads for all motorists, CAA North & East Ontario (CAANEO) and the City of Ottawa's Integrated Road Safety Program (IRSP) co-sponsored two of its four additional Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (R.I.D.E.) programs this past weekend, in order to get impaired drivers off Ottawa's roads.
There were six stops that resulted in approximately 1200 vehicles being pulled over between 10:30 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. The Ottawa Police Service handed out 7 three day driving suspensions, 1 impaired driving charge and a possession of a stolen vehicle charge.
Friday's R.I.D.E. stops took place on Manotick Main Street, Nicholas Street and Cummings Bridge, with Saturday's stops taking place on 10th Line Road, the Blackburn Bypass and St. Laurent Blvd.
"These additional co-sponsored R.I.D.E. programs not only assist the Ottawa Police Service in removing impaired motorists from our roadways, but reinforce the message that under no circumstances will impaired driving be tolerated", said CAANEO Manager of Public & Government Affairs, Korey Kennedy. "CAANEO and the IRSP are committed to eliminating impaired driving, and these additional R.I.D.E. programs provide a tangible way of addressing this serious and often deadly crime directly."
The police officers that took part in these programs were all off-duty. Each program consisted of checkpoints set up in various areas throughout Ottawa between 10:30 p.m. and 3:00 a.m., on Friday, June 4th, and Saturday, June 5th, with CAANEO employees present to distribute free CAANEO key chains and vouchers as a token of thanks to all sober drivers.
"The City of Ottawa's Integrated Road Safety Program is happy to have co-sponsored the R.I.D.E. initiatives with CAA North & East Ontario", said Jerry Thomas, Road Safety Coordinator for the City of Ottawa. "By being visible and taking a proactive approach to this problem, the Ottawa Police and its community partners are helping to convey the message that driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated."
CAANEO, the IRSP and the Ottawa Police wish to remind everyone to make the right choice this summer- if you drink or use drugs, don't drive.
The two remaining CAANEO and IRSP co-sponsored R.I.D.E. programs will be taking place at various locations throughout Ottawa on Friday, June 11, and Saturday, June 12, 2010.
For over 100 years, the Canadian Automobile Association has provided Travel, Emergency Road Services, Insurance, and Advocacy for its Members. CAA North & East Ontario continues to be the leading membership organization by recognizing and promoting its heritage and integrity in the community, while maximizing Members' value.
The IRSP is a partnership between the Ottawa Police, the departments of Public Works and Services and Ottawa Public Health, and community partners. The Program's goal is to reduce traffic fatalities or serious injuries by 30 percent by 2010. The IRSP is committed to using available resources to make Ottawa roads safer for residents.