Road law enforcement work with insurance company to ensure drivers arrive alive

Posted Jan 5, 2012 By Jill Hudson

EMC News - The Leeds & Grenville Insurance Brokers Association partnered with the Grenville County OPP for their RIDE program in Prescott on Dec. 22.

The insurance association chose to reward responsible drivers for driving responsibly.

"We had some blankets to give out," said Brian Purcell, president of Purcell Insurance. He said the Brockville Braves and the South Grenville Rangers donated game tickets. "So as people came along and came through the RIDE program they were passed through by the police. Then we stepped in and gave them a blanket or hockey tickets - something to thank them for driving responsibly. It was well-received. The people were surprised to see us there and happy (impressed) that they got a bit of a reward for going through safely." He wants to thank the Brockville Braves and the South Grenville Rangers for their contributions.

He said the number of people driving under the influence have gone down. "People are more responsible - they are worried about driving if they've been drinking," said Purcell. He said the idea for this version of a RIDE program came from the Ottawa Insurance Brokers, who did the same thing - the Ottawa '67's donated tickets.

The Leeds & Grenville Insurance Brokers Association teamed up with the RIDE programs in Kemptville, Prescott (Grenville OPP) and the Brockville Police Services.

Purcell pointed out the costs - not all monetary - for driving under the influence.

"Their insurance rates will go up after they get their licence back, after a careless driving or drinking and driving charge. A surcharge will double to bad rate they are already getting. It's costly to get caught because you can't drive, you probably have to hire lawyers and pay your insurance and that is costly."

He said the much greater cost to drinking and driving is hurting somebody.

"The greatest cost is if you kill somebody. A lot of people worry more if they have been drinking and driving - they worry more about getting caught by the police - should worry more about the accident you might have," said Purcell. He said, like cancer, everybody knows somebody this has affected. "Everybody knows someone affected by cancer. Most people know a story of people affected by impaired driving."

The ramp from Brockville to the 401 west-bound had a RIDE program set up on Dec. 27. The OPP of Leeds and County and the East Region Highway enforcement team checked for seatbelts and drivers under the influence.

Constable Kevin Lamacraft of OPP Leeds County, who worked that busy RIDE program, said drivers have a responsibility to everyone on the road. "I believe it is important for people to stay sober if they are driving," said Lamacraft, "I think anyone who drives has a moral responsibility to everyone on the highway - and part of that is driving safely and driving sober."

Lamacraft stated that RIDE programs have been effective in reducing driving under the influence. "I do believe that RIDE checks certainly play a large role - people see the police out there, realize we are here in all kinds of different locations at all different times of the day. I think they pay attention to that and modify their behaviour accordingly," said Lamacraft.