OPP Launches Province-Wide Festive RIDE Campaign as Holiday Travel Season Begins
OPP officers are increasing roadside sobriety checks as part of the annual Festive RIDE campaign running through January 1, and have received over 21,000 suspected impaired calls this year to date.
Ontario Provincial Police have officially launched their annual Festive RIDE campaign, ramping up efforts to detect and prevent impaired driving during one of the busiest times of the year for road travel.
The province-wide campaign, which stands for Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere, runs from November 20, 2025, to January 1, 2026. Drivers across Ontario can expect to encounter an increased number of roadside sobriety checkpoints throughout the holidays, with OPP officers conducting day and night patrols aimed at keeping impaired drivers off the road.
So far this year, 34 people have died in alcohol- or drug-related collisions on OPP-patrolled roads, a figure police say reinforces the need for consistent enforcement and public awareness.
Drivers stopped at RIDE checkpoints may undergo field sobriety testing or be assessed using other detection tools. The OPP notes that officers are trained to identify signs of both alcohol and drug impairment, and that testing procedures are thorough and evidence-based.
While enforcement is a key part of the campaign, police are also calling on the public to take an active role.
The OPP reports that more than 21,000 calls were made to police this year by people reporting suspected impaired drivers. Officers credit these reports with helping remove dangerous drivers from the road and encourage residents to remain alert and proactive.
The campaign also serves as a reminder that impaired driving prevention often begins before anyone gets behind the wheel.
Police are urging people hosting or attending holiday gatherings to make clear, responsible plans that ensure no one drives under the influence. That could include arranging for designated drivers, staying overnight, or using taxi or rideshare services.
Under Ontario law, there is zero tolerance for alcohol or drug presence in the systems of young, novice, or commercial drivers. Those found in violation may face licence suspensions, fines, or criminal charges, even for low levels of impairment.
The campaign is led by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police Traffic Committee and is part of an ongoing effort to reduce impaired driving year-round, not just during the holidays.
The OPP is asking all Ontarians to do their part to keep roads safe this season and beyond.