Peel Regional Police have officially launched their 2025 Holiday RIDE campaign in Mississauga and Brampton, vowing to step up enforcement against impaired drivers as the festive season begins — and warning that drug-impaired driving is becoming an increasingly serious threat on local roads.
At Monday’s campaign kickoff, police said that while alcohol-impaired driving continues to be a major concern, officers are now seeing a significant rise in impairment caused by drugs. This trend, they noted, is creating new challenges that require “specialized tools, advanced training and cross-disciplinary collaboration.”
The evolution of drug use among drivers — including cannabis, opioids and poly-drug combinations — has pushed police to adapt. Peel officers are investing in new technologies, enhanced roadside testing methods and expanded officer training to keep pace with the changing landscape of impairment.
The 2025 RIDE campaign began enforcement operations on Saturday and will continue through December 31, once again in partnership with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). In just the first 48 hours, officers checked more than 700 vehicles, conducted 181 roadside tests and laid five impaired driving charges.
Last year’s holiday RIDE campaign saw more than 12,000 vehicles checked and resulted in 131 impaired charges and 85 suspensions. This year, police say even greater numbers of officers from Road Safety Services and other divisions will be deployed for spot checks throughout Peel Region.
Deputy Chief Marc Andrews emphasized that impaired driving — whether due to alcohol or drugs — remains one of the leading causes of road collisions in Ontario. He stressed that these incidents should never be referred to as “accidents.”
“They’re collisions,” he said. “They’re all avoidable.”
MADD Canada’s chief operating officer Dawn Regan echoed the message, calling impaired driving an “epidemic” that destroys families and claiming hundreds of Canadian lives each year. She urged residents to plan ahead for safe transportation, reminding the public that getting behind the wheel impaired is a dangerous choice — not a mistake.
“Take Uber, transit, stay the night, have a designated driver,” she said. “Please let’s all do the right thing and never drive impaired.”
Police say the Holiday RIDE campaign complements their year-round commitment to preventing impaired driving, noting that more than 787 impaired charges have already been laid in Peel Region so far in 2025. Officers will remain highly visible throughout the season to ensure residents get home safely.