Impaired driving on the rise in the Timmins-area

Timmins police officials say have noticed a significant increase in the number of motorists getting behind the wheel drunk or high.

The Timmins Police Service has charged more than 16 drivers with impaired driving since January, up from 13 this time last year and 11 in 2021. disturbing trend it's disturbed with a trend it is noticing...an increase in the number of motorists who are getting behind their wheels, drunk or high.

“More and more people are being changed with impaired driving linked to the uses of what were at one time illegal substances,” said the police service’s corporate communication coordinator, Marc Depatie.

“Regardless of the nature of the substance, if it deters or alters your ability to drive a car safely, that’s where it meets the threshold of a criminal act.”

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Depatie told CTV News that both men and women ranging from 22 to 55-years-old have recently been charged and are now before the courts.

Police officials said that in one instance a woman was found unconscious at the wheel at a local address.

“In a number of circumstances drivers were operating in night time conditions without their headlights on so it isn’t as though all of these situations call for a particularly careful officer sometimes the impairment is so obvious, anyone would notice it,” said Depatie.

Police said any time anyone sees a driver who may be impaired, call 9-1-1 immediately and police will investigate; police have specially trained officers at the ready to determine if a driver is high or drunk.