On the Beat
18 November 2008 - 18 November 2008
RAID Launch – 18 November 2008
This week Victoria will host the launch of the nation-wide police operation Remove All Impaired Drivers (RAID). RAID is a three-week traffic campaign involving thousands of police from ACT, NSW, Victoria, South Australia Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland in a collaborative effort to detect and remove alcohol-impaired drivers from our roads in the lead-up to the busy Christmas period.
At specific times during the Operation RAID program, police will combine their efforts for border "lockdowns", in which all drivers and motorcycle riders travelling across state and territory borders will be subject to random breath tests.
Operation RAID is seen as a vital tool by police in all states and territories as a means of reinforcing responsible driving practices, with a specific focus on curbing drink-driving in the lead-up to the festive season.
Last year over 320,000 drivers were detected with alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both whilst behind the wheel in the four states which participated in operation RAID. Over 6000 of those were here in the ACT.
The theme for operation RAID is 'Nowhere to Hide', reinforcing the message across all jurisdictions that if you drink and drive in the lead-up to Christmas, you not only risk losing your licence, but you endanger your life and those around you.