Local police are sharing some good news about the state of traffic in the Ottawa Valley and beyond.
The OPP says the number of impaired drivers on roadways in Eastern Ontario are down compared to this time last year, with 184 incidents reported between the Ottawa Valley, the Quebec border, and Quinte West.
That number is down from 232 impaired driving cases last year, but OPP Inspector and Regional Traffic Manager Walid Kandar is tempering any celebrations about the decline, noting that “one impaired driver is one too many.”
Kandar says “being impaired while driving, whether by alcohol or drugs, can have deadly consequences for the driver, their family or others on the road,” adding that local officers will continue to perform RIDE checks at all hours of the day to catch people making poor decisions on our local roads.
The Inspector says the smart choice is to plan ahead, either with a designated driver, cab, or ride-share service.
(written by Kasey Egan)
