This weekend is one of the busiest for office holiday parties!

Many people view the first weekend of December as the unofficial launch of the festive party season.

Ottawa police will be cracking down on speeders and impaired drivers during December as part of the Selected Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP).

High speeds are blamed for 16,231 crashes on Ottawa roads between 2007 and 2011, killing 70 people and injuring more than 4,700. During that same time frame, impaired driving caused another 1,818 collisions, killing 34 and injuring more than 760 people.   

Meantime, Ontario Provincial Police have launched their annual Festive R.I.D.E campaign.

According to the OPP, alcohol-related motor vehicle collisions within OPP jurisdiction are up by more than 17 per cent for 2012 compared to this time last year.

The 2012 campaign runs from November 24 until January 2.
    
The OPP is also inviting members of the public to join them on their Facebook page to share their views about impaired driving.

There are a number of options for getting home safe in the Ottawa area.

Operation Red Nose launched its second annual campaign in Ottawa on November 13. As of Friday, November 30, you’ll be able to call the organization for a safe-ride home during the holiday season.

Volunteers drive you and your car home for free, but donations are encouraged. The proceeds go to the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa.

“The service was very busy last year,” said spokesperson Adam Leclerc. “We had about 700 people that we drove home and the phone rang about four times a second on New Year’s Eve.”

Residents in the National Capital Region have been able to call Operation Red Nose for more than 30 years, but the service had previously been run out of Gatineau.

You can call Operation Red Nose Friday and Saturday nights until January 1st.

Another choice is an Ottawa company called Responsible Choice Inc.  The company operates as a personal chauffeur service that drives you and your vehicle anywhere in Ottawa.

Responsible Choice Inc is based in Gloucester and operates year-round.

Vic’s Towing is another option if you’ve had a few drinks and need a safe ride home. For a fee of around $70, Vic’s Towing will pick you up, drive you home, and tow your vehicle home as well. The service is offered year-round.