Kentucky State Police kicks off a six-month fall, holiday, and New Year enforcement campaign called Operation R.A.I.D. (Remove Aggressive, Impaired and Distracted drivers from Kentucky Roadways).
The effort was developed by KSP Commanders across the state to target driving behaviors that cause most crashes in Kentucky. Operation R.A.I.D. begins Nov. 1, 2012 and runs through April 30, 2013.
KSP Director of Operations, Lieutenant Colonel Jack Miniard says the unique aspect about Operation R.A.I.D. is that although it will have the same objectives, each post will have a different operational plan based on crash activity in that region.
“Many times, law enforcement will participate in a blanket campaign that may or may not work well in certain areas,” says Miniard. “Operation R.A.I.D. allows each post to identify targeted areas based on real time crash data and mapping systems for more effective results.”
Miniard said the campaign will have both an enforcement and educational component to assist in getting the message out to motorists.
“We will have more visible enforcement in crash corridors, more roving patrols, and an increase in safety checkpoints across the state,” adds Miniard. “Posts will utilize best practices for which they have had the most success and combine current crash data to identify targeted enforcement zones.”
Miniard says the campaign focus is on reducing the loss of life on Kentucky highways. “This program is not about writing tickets, it is about enforcing traffic laws and bringing awareness to dangerous driving behaviors that cause crashes,” adds Miniard.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines aggressive driving as occurring when “an individual commits a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property.”
NHTSA studies show that aggressive drivers cause two-thirds of all fatal crashes and 35 percent of all crashes.