Police see a 25% increase in impaired related charges in March

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, March 31, 2022       9:00 am 

(Ottawa) — Since January 2022, the Ottawa Police Service is seeing impaired driving charges returning to pre-pandemic numbers.  

A total of 146 impairment-related charges have been laid between January 1^st, to March 30^th, 2022. In March alone, there were 54 charges laid, as opposed to 43 in March 2021. 

Nearly half of the drivers charged with impaired driving since January 2022 were involved in a collision. These numbers are a cause of concern for road safety for motorists and vulnerable road-users as we move into cycling season and the return of the eScooters downtown. On average, every 1.3 days, a collision happens as a result of an impaired driver. “Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can impair the ability to operate a conveyance” says Sgt Troy Froats. 

Another trend of concern to police is an increase of inexperienced drivers being investigated for impaired driving. Drivers with a graduated licence are not permitted to have alcohol in their system. Those who do are subject to fines and 3, 7 or 30 day driving suspensions for having a blood alcohol concentration above 0. 

We want to remind drivers that impaired driving is not only criminal; it is dangerous. Make it a habit to plan a sober ride home. 

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