Another sure sign that winter and holiday driving is here is undoubtedly the start of the OPP Festive RIDE Campaign, which got underway Saturday.

Provincial police say they’re pulling out all the stops this year to try and take impaired drivers off the roads.

The campaign will feature an increased police presence, with officers looking for things like impaired and dangerous driving.

There will also be more an increase in RIDE programs, with police reminding the public to plan ahead and not drink and drive.

Stats show 61 people have already died this year in alcohol-related collisions in OPP jurisdictions, up more than 17 per cent from last year.

Officers charged nearly 700 drivers with impaired driving during the 2011 Festive RIDE program.

The Festive RIDE program runs through January 2 this year.

Locally meantime, Waterloo Regional Police launched their Festive RIDE program on Friday.

In a release, Chief Matt Torigian stated, “The service is committed to the annual program and building awareness around the importance of driving while sober.”

During the Festive RIDE in 2011, officers checked almost 11-thousand vehicles, conducted over 50 roadside tests and laid four impaired charges.