(FRANKFORT, Ky.) – April is the ‘National Distracted Driving Awareness Month’ and the Kentucky State Police is combating distracted driving with an 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. began on April 1st and runs through April 30th.
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 says 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.”
“Each post will be challenged to utilize their Public Affairs Officer’s as an outreach tool to the community,” says Miniard. “Through media and education we can get our message out while providing the public with safe driving resources.”
Miniard says the campaign focus is reducing 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 (NHTSA) 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.
For more information about Operation R.A.I.D. in the Post 7 District, please contact Trooper Robert Purdy or call the KSP Public Affairs Branch at (502) 782-1780.
