OTTAWA -- This year's holiday season RIDE campaign may have found fewer drunks on the road but alcohol related deaths on Eastern Ontario highways are up 50% for the year.

Police said the number of deaths involving alcohol have increased from eight in 2008 to 12 in 2009.

However, the Eastern Ontario OPP said impaired driving charges were down this holiday season, compared to 2008.

Police stopped 175,944 vehicles between Nov. 27 and Jan. 2, charging 35 people with impaired driving.

There were 45 people dinged the previous year.

The overall number of fatal collisions on highways has reduced in 2009 over 2008 and 2007.

Police said since 2007, fatal collisions have been reduced by 28%, related injuries have been reduced by 37% and deaths have been reduced by 27%.