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Halton holiday RIDE stats show A Great Fire for your Great Room sharp increase in drinking drivers Although fewer impaired driving charges were laid during the 2006 Holiday Ride program compared to the previous year, Halton officers found that more people had been drinking before getting behind the wheel. During the 2006 RIDE program Halton Police stopped 27,359 vehicles-- 7,643 fewer than 2005-- but found 20 more drivers had been drinking. "Those 20 drivers had PETER PAYNE consumed enough alcohol that when they per`Some formed a roadside screenmight be ing device test, they were lulled into found to have sufficient alcohol in their systems thinking (50 mg or more) that they could not legally they can drive and their drivers consume licences were suspended more than for 12 hours," said Sgt. they should Peter Payne. In total, two impaired before get- driving charges were laid ting behind during the RIDE program compared the wheel.' last yearprevious year.to seven the Despite the lower number of impaired charges laid police are concerned that more drivers were found to have been drinking. "The alcohol drink that you consume can 2005-06 Holiday RIDE stats comparison 2006 Vehicle stops Roadside tests 12-hr. licence suspension Licence suspension Liquor seizure Impaired charges Traffic Act charges Warnings Other charges 27,359 199 54 1 3 2 211 491 9 2005 35,002 177 34 7 2 7 228 765 26 take from a few minutes to an hour to affect your sobriety," said Payne. "Some might be lulled into thinking they can consume more than they should before getting behind the wheel. The last drink you consume may not begin to affect your judgment until after you begin your drive. It's too late at that point and that is when the problems begin." Police urge everyone to think before taking a drink and take a taxi, get a ride from a sober friend or use designated drivers if they have been drinking. The number of people charged with impaired driving last year was actually the lowest of all the Holiday RIDE programs in Halton over the past five years; however, it was also the same year that far fewer vehicles were stopped.