NSW Police have launched Operation RAID (Remove All Impaired Drivers) in a bid to reduce the growing number of fatalities on NSW roads, following concerning road trauma trends across the state.
The high visibility state-wide road policing operation will be conducted from 12.01am tonight (Thursday 5 September 2024) to 4am on Sunday (8 September 2024) and aims to stamp out road-related trauma through a whole-of-community approach.
Operation RAID will also see an increase in officers on NSW roads targeting drink driving, drug driving and fatigue – three major contributors to the state's annual road toll.
NSW Police will undertake high volume stationary and mobile random breath and drug testing in addition to speaking with motorists regarding their fatigue levels. The operation compliments existing policing strategies that target speeding, unauthorised drivers, the use of restraints and distraction offences.
During September 2023, 32 people lost their lives – one less than the September the previous year – on NSW Roads in both regional and metropolitan areas of the state.
Of those 32 fatalities in 2023, 22 people died within a 14-day period.
NSW Police and Counter-terrorism Minister, the Honourable Yasmin Catley MP, said the Government supports the work of the NSW Police Force, including high-visibility operations such as RAID, to address road trauma.
"Drivers will see plenty of officers on the roads, enforcing the law and helping to ensure we all reach our destination safely," Minister Catley said.
"The message is clear – slow down, put your phone away and have a Plan B if you are consuming alcohol – otherwise, you'll meet with one of our officers who will take the appropriate action.
"Too many people have lost their lives on our roads this year. Police are doing everything they can to address the increased trauma, including operations such as RAID, but we all have a role to play in getting ourselves, our passengers and other road users home alive," she said.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner David Driver, said with the weather warming up in early September, it is likely more people will be out on the roads and it is up to all road users to take responsibility.
"It is concerning that during the month of September over the last two years we saw an increased number of lives lost," Acting Assistant Commissioner Driver said.
"We don't want a repeat of last September's road toll, where in a two-week period we saw almost two people die per day on NSW roads.
"Reducing the amount of trauma and fatalities on NSW roads is not the sole responsibility of police; while police will continue to be out in force stopping those who choose to risk lives, a zero-fatality goal requires ongoing whole of community action.
"So, we are launching this high-visibility road operation to remind road users that enough is enough – every community member needs to take responsibility for their behaviour. If everyone works together and thinks of others, we can prevent the significant harm that road trauma causes our community," he said.
To date, there have been 205 fatal crashes on NSW roads, resulting in 226 deaths. At this time last year there were 195 fatal crashes which had resulted in 221 deaths.
Members of the public are urged to report motorists engaged in dangerous driving to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
