Portland police officers will join law enforcement agencies from across Cumberland County in a coordinated effort aimed at getting impaired drivers off Maine roads and reducing serious crashes.
The Portland Police Department announced that approximately 10 of its officers will participate in upcoming enforcement details through the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety’s Regional Impaired Driving Enforcement, or RIDE, program.
The initiative brings officers from multiple departments together for high-visibility patrols and targeted enforcement in areas where crash data indicates an increased risk of impaired driving.
Portland officials said the effort also supports the city’s Vision Zero initiative, which seeks to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries by taking a broader approach to roadway safety.
“These efforts are part of our continued commitment to improving roadway safety and addressing behaviors that put motorists, pedestrians, and other roadway users at risk,” Portland Police Chief Mark Dubois said.
Under the RIDE program, participating departments can pool officers and other resources for saturation patrols and other enforcement operations. Officials say the regional approach allows departments to put more officers on the road than an individual agency might otherwise be able to dedicate to impaired-driving enforcement.
“We know that impaired driving remains a leading cause of traffic fatalities, and that it takes a coordinated, multiagency approach to make a real impact,” said John Roma, RIDE Team Coordinator for Dirigo Safety. “By working together, we can send a clear message: impaired driving will not be tolerated.”
According to information released by Portland police, Maine has averaged more than 1,200 impaired-driving crashes annually during the past three years.
Nearly 40 percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes have tested positive for an impairing substance, according to the department.
The RIDE initiative is a partnership between the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety and the Maine Chiefs of Police Association and is designed to increase police visibility, deter drivers from getting behind the wheel while impaired and prevent crashes before they happen.
Portland police are urging drivers to plan ahead if they intend to drink or use substances that could impair their ability to drive. Police recommend using a designated driver, taxi, rideshare service or public transportation instead of driving.
The department is also reminding motorists to wear seat belts, obey traffic laws, avoid distracted driving and slow down.
Anyone who observes a driver they believe may be impaired is encouraged to call 911 when it is safe to do so.
Portland police said the department will continue combining traffic enforcement with public education and regional partnerships as part of its effort to reduce dangerous driving and make city streets safer.
