The Brantford Police Service (BPS) has launched its 2025 Holiday R.I.D.E. campaign, an annual enforcement and public education initiative aimed at removing alcohol- and drug-impaired drivers from local roads during the holiday season.
The campaign, which runs throughout December 2025, focuses on deterring impaired driving and raising awareness about the risks and legal consequences associated with operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both. Police note that impaired driving remains one of the leading causes of death on Ontario’s roads.
Impaired driving applies to the operation of all motor vehicles, including cars, trucks, snowmobiles and off-road vehicles, when a driver’s ability is compromised to any degree.
Even small amounts of alcohol can reduce reaction time, impair attention, and slow reflexes, while drugs — including prescription and over-the-counter medications — can also significantly affect driving ability.
Police are reminding motorists that impairment is not limited to illegal substances.
Prescription medications, cannabis, and common cold or allergy remedies may all impair driving, particularly when combined with alcohol.
Drivers found to be impaired can face a range of penalties, depending on age, licence type, substance levels and prior convictions.
These may include licence suspensions ranging from three days to a lifetime, a seven-day vehicle impoundment, financial penalties, reinstatement fees, mandatory ignition interlock requirements, education or treatment programs, and medical evaluations.
Criminal convictions can result in additional fines and jail time.
Under Canadian law, the maximum legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for fully licensed drivers is below 0.08. Driving at or above that level is a criminal offence.
In Ontario, drivers with a BAC between 0.05 and 0.08 — the so-called “warn range” — also face immediate roadside penalties.
Ontario maintains a zero-tolerance policy for drivers aged 21 and under, as well as novice drivers of any age holding G1, G2, M1 or M2 licences.
These drivers must have no alcohol or detectable drugs, including cannabis, in their system while driving.
As part of the campaign, BPS is urging residents to plan ahead to avoid impaired driving by using designated drivers, public transit, taxis or ride-share services, or by staying overnight.
Drivers are also encouraged to consult doctors or pharmacists about the effects of medications on driving.
“There is never an excuse for impaired driving,” police said, emphasizing that the Holiday R.I.D.E. campaign is intended to protect all road users during one of the busiest times of the year.
