MADD Ottawa and Area

06/26/2026

Come see us this Thursday through Sunday from 5:00–7:00 PM at the RCMP Sunset Ceremonies. We would love to see you !

05/19/2026

Ottawa OPP has laid impaired driving related charges against a 21 year old male from Carleton Place after the driver rolled his vehicle on Highway 7. OPP were called to a single vehicle collison shortly before 2:30am on May 16th. Police suspected the driver to be under the influence of alcohol. A roadside screening device was utilized and the driver was brought back to Ottawa Detachment for further testing. As a result, the driver is now facing the following charges:
•Operation while impaired-alcohol and drugs
•Operation while impaired- blood alcohol concentration 80 plus.

The accused had his licence suspended for 90-days and had his vehicle impounded for seven days. The accused is set to appear in an Ontario Court of Justice in Ottawa at a later date. Arrive alive. Drive sober.
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La Police provinciale de l'Ontario (OPP) d'Ottawa a porté des accusations de conduite avec facultés affaiblies contre un homme de 21 ans de Carleton Place après que ce dernier ait fait une sortie de route sur l'autoroute 7. La OPP a été appelée sur les lieux d'une collision impliquant un seul véhicule peu avant 2 h 30 le 16 mai. Les policiers soupçonnaient le conducteur d'être sous l'influence de l'alcool. Un test de dépistage d'alcoolémie a été effectué sur place et le conducteur a été ramené au détachement d'Ottawa pour des analyses complémentaires. Il fait donc face aux accusations suivantes :

• Conduite avec les facultés affaiblies par l'alcool et les drogues
• Conduite avec les facultés affaiblies par l'alcool (taux d'alcoolémie supérieur à 80 mg/100 ml).

Le permis de conduire de l'accusé a été suspendu pour 90 jours et son véhicule a été mis en fourrière pour sept jours. L'accusé comparaîtra devant la Cour de justice de l'Ontario à Ottawa à une date ultérieure. Arrivez en vie. Conduisez sobre.

01/04/2026

12/31/2025

12/27/2025

🎉 New Year’s Eve plans?

Ride for free after 6 pm on December 31, with free service running until 4 am on January 1, courtesy of MADD Ottawa and Area and Safer Roads Ottawa.

Celebrate responsibly and get home safely!

Plan your trip with our Travel Planner or the .
https://ow.ly/9ngj50XOLRV
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🎉 Des plans pour le réveillon?

Déplace-toi gratuitement dès 18 h le 31 décembre, avec un service gratuit jusqu’à 4 h le 1er janvier, grâce à MADD Ottawa and Area et à la Sécurité des routes à Ottawa.

Célèbre de façon responsable et rentre en toute sécurité!
Planifie ton trajet avec notre planificateur de trajets ou l’.

https://ow.ly/LIHZ50XOLRX

12/25/2025

🚗 Impaired Driving Laws Are Changing – Effective January 1, 2026 New legislation will strengthen impaired driving countermeasures and increase accountability for offenders. Here’s what you need to know:
🔹 Stronger Licence Suspensions
• First occurrence: suspension increases from 3 days to 7 days
• Second occurrence: suspension increases from 7 days to 14 days
• Applies to young/novice drivers, warn-range BAC (0.05–0.079), zero-tolerance violations, and poor roadside test performance

🔹 Longer Look-Back Period
• Alcohol and drug-related offences will now be tracked for 10 years (previously 5)
• Applies to suspensions, fines, ignition interlock, and remedial programs

🔹 Lifetime Licence Suspension
• Impaired driving causing death will result in an indefinite licence suspension, with the possibility of reduction after 25 years under specific conditions
🔹 Mandatory Education & Treatment
• First roadside suspension requires completion of a remedial education program
• Second or subsequent suspensions require a treatment program

Learn more and stay informed ➡️ https://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/community-safety-and-crime-prevention/impaired-driving.aspx

Drive sober. Every trip matters.
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🚗 Les lois sur la conduite avec facultés affaiblies changent – En vigueur à compter du 1er janvier 2026

De nouvelles mesures législatives viendront renforcer la lutte contre la conduite avec facultés affaiblies et accroître la responsabilisation des contrevenants. Voici ce que vous devez savoir :

🔹 Suspensions de permis plus sévères
• Première occurrence : la suspension passe de 3 jours à 7 jours
• Deuxième occurrence : la suspension passe de 7 jours à 14 jours
• S’applique aux conducteurs jeunes ou novices, à la plage d’alerte (alcoolémie de 0,05 à 0,079), aux infractions de tolérance zéro et aux résultats insatisfaisants lors des tests routiers

🔹 Période de référence prolongée
• Les infractions liées à l’alcool ou aux drogues seront désormais prises en compte pendant 10 ans (au lieu de 5)
• S’applique aux suspensions de permis, amendes, dispositifs antidémarreurs et programmes de sensibilisation

🔹 Suspension de permis à vie
• Une condamnation pour conduite avec facultés affaiblies causant la mort entraînera une suspension indéfinie du permis, avec possibilité de réduction après 25 ans sous certaines conditions

🔹 Éducation et traitement obligatoires
• Une première suspension au bord de la route exigera la réussite d’un programme de sensibilisation
• Une deuxième suspension ou toute suspension subséquente exigera la participation à un programme de traitement

Pour en savoir plus et demeurer informé ⬇️
https://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/community-safety-and-crime-prevention/impaired-driving.aspx

Conduisez sobrement. Chaque déplacement compte.

12/18/2025

A single-vehicle collision near Pakenham has left one person deceased.

On Monday, December 15th, shortly before midnight, members of the Lanark County OPP responded to the collision on the 8th Concession of South Pakenham, near Cedar Hill Sideroad.

A passenger was found trapped in the car, while the driver and another passenger were able to get out. Members of the Mississippi Mills Fire Department were able to free the trapped individual. Despite life-saving measures by Lanark County Paramedics, the 18-year-old male from Mississippi Mills Township was pronounced deceased a short time later. The two other people were transported to hospital with minor injuries.

A 17-year-old male has been arrested and charged under the Criminal Code with:
•Operation while impaired causing death
•Operation while impaired causing bodily harm
•Operation while impaired – alcohol concentration (80 plus)

The accused has been released with conditions from police custody and is scheduled to appear in court in January.

If anyone has information on circumstances leading up to the collision, they should contact the Lanark County OPP at 1-888-310-1122 and refer to incident E251683346.

12/17/2025

Grenville OPP teamed up with members of the Ottawa and area chapter of MADD on Tuesday, December 16th to hold two Festive RIDE programs in North Grenville. Over 200 vehicles were stopped, and the good news... no impaired drivers.

MADD members thanked the drivers for making the right choice and presented some MADD swag.

As you make your holiday party plans, make sure to include a safe way to get home. Have a designated driver, book a cab or a rideshare or ask your host about using the spare room.

Don't drive impaired. Lives depend on it, including yours.

12/17/2025

The holiday season has already seen serious, even fatal collisions in eastern Ontario, in which alcohol has been a factor. The OPP has also charged numerous drivers for being impaired behind the wheel.

Don't drive impaired. It can be deadly and it can change lives forever.

Plan ahead. Have a designated driver, use a taxi or ride-share, take transit or stay put.

Never assume you're 'good to go' after a couple of hours of sleep. Nothing but time can eliminate alcohol or drugs from your system. You could be dangerously impaired the next morning.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
MADD Canada

12/12/2025

Festive RIDE programs continue to find impaired drivers across eastern Ontario.

East Region OPP officers have now arrested and charged a total of 67 people with impaired driving since the initiative began on Thursday, November 20th. That includes 18 in the past week.

Officers from Quinte West to the Quebec boundary, and northwest through the Ottawa Valley, have conducted over 800 Festive RIDE programs, checking drivers to ensure they were not impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Each of those drivers charged with impaired operation has had their licence suspended for 90-days and their vehicle was impounded for seven-days, plus they each have a scheduled court appearance.

Officers have also issued 15 three-day licence suspensions for drivers who were found to be in the warn range on an approved roadside alcohol screening device.

The Festive RIDE campaign runs until January 1st. Expect to see RIDE programs day or night, seven days week. They can happen along major highways, rural roads or downtown streets. While we could be anywhere, we can’t be everywhere. If you suspect someone is driving impaired by drugs or alcohol, call 9-1-1. You could be saving lives.

MADD Canada
MADD Ottawa and Area