Seven drivers are charged with alcohol related offences after Toronto Police RIDE patrols Super Bowl weekend.
Toronto Police stopped about 1,000 cars with 14 charges laid in total.
“The goal of RIDE is to reduce impaired drivers and protect the public. Drinking and driving is now socially unacceptable, however there are still a lot of drivers that are making the wrong choice and risking the life of a loved one,” says Const. Clinton Stibbe.
Routine stop by Toronto R.I.D.E patrol. (Photo courtesy of the Toronto Police)
He says there is an average of 18 RIDE patrols in Toronto on any given weekend.
Extra RIDE patrols are added for holidays, weekends, major events and, “anytime there is an elevated risk to the public from impaired drivers,” Const. Stibbe says.
Const. Stibbe was unable to provide the number of charges that were laid on drivers during the 2013 Super Bowl weekend.
According to Statistics Canada there were 90,277 impaired driving incidents nationally in 2011.
That same report shows 121 incidents of impaired driving causing death and another 839 incidents of impaired driving causing bodily harm.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is another organization that is committed to stopping drunk driving and helping families affected by drunk drivers.
Renata Cvitkovic, MADD Chapter Services Manager of Ontario said they, “did do a brief posting on our national Twitter and Facebook for the Super Bowl.”
MADD puts out media releases for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day, New Years, the Grey Cup, most long weekends.
Cvitkovic said the organization puts out media releases for,” most occasions that are seen to be celebratory with opportunities that we know people are going to get together.”
