With Christmas season in full swing, the OPP’s Western Region is once again reminding drivers of the dangers of drinking and driving.

As in years past, the OPP are ready to embark on its OPP Festive RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaign, which kicks off Friday and continues until Jan. 2, 2010.

It’s unfortunate drivers need to be continually reminded about how stupid drinking and driving is, and in a perfect world, initiatives such as the Festive RIDE wouldn’t be necessary; people would simply know drinking and driving is wrong and they wouldn’t throw caution to the wind and get behind the wheel of a car if they’ve been drinking.

But this isn’t a perfect world and the Festive RIDE campaign is here to keep our roads safe.

According to information provided by the OPP, during the five-week Festive RIDE in 2008, officers stopped 884,729 vehicles at various roadside checkpoints. During those checks, 319 people were arrested and charged with alcohol-related offences. Also, 784 12-hour suspensions and 353 90-day suspensions were issued.

In a statement, OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino said, “Drinking and driving is a serious threat to public safety and remains the leading cause of criminal death in Canada. The tragic loss of life and the burden on the health care system that results touches every one of us at some point in our lives.”

But there is some good news — OPP Chief Superintendent Bill Grodzinski, commander of the OPP’s Highway Safety Division said, “Ontario roads are among the safest in North America.

While the OPP continues to conduct RIDE spot checks throughout the year, the Festive RIDE initiative has proved to be an effective deterrent and important tool to educate the driving public about the dangers of driving while impaired.”

Let’s continue to make Ontario’s roads among the safest, and let’s avoid any senseless tragedies on the roads this holiday season.