The Portland Police Department announced this morning that it is joining law enforcement agencies across Maine in a coordinated effort to reduce impaired driving through increased enforcement, education and collaboration with neighborhing agencies.  Partdicipation in ths initiative is another way in which the Police Department is supportig the City’s efforts to reach VIsion Zero – a goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities and serious injuries by taking a systematic approach to road safety.

As part of the Maine Bureau of HIghway Safety’s Regional Impaired Driving Enforcement (RIDE) program, approximately 10 Portland officers will participate in a series of upcoming enforcement details throughout Cumberland County.  These efforts bring together officers from multiple agenies to conduct high-visibility impaired drivng enforcement in areas where data shows an increased risk for crashes involving impaired motorists.

The RIDE program serves as a force multiplier for participating agencies by allowing law enforcement partners to share resources and conduct coordinated saturation patrols, targeted enforcement details and other initiaties aimed at removing impaired drivers from Maine roadways.

Impaired driving remains a serious concern throughout Maine.  Over the past three years, the state has averaged more than 1,200 inpaired driving crashes annually.  Nearly 40 percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes have tested positive for an impairing substance.

The press release did not say when this Initiative goes into effect.

The RIDE initiative is a partnership between the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety and the Maine Chiefs of Police Association.  Participating agencies work together to increase enforcement visibility, deter impaired driving and prevent crashes before they occur.