Every year around Easter, newsreaders across the nation dust off the same piece of copy, “All Police leave’s been cancelled in an effort to stem the road toll as holiday makers head out of town etc, etc…”

This year, NSW Police invited RADD (Recording Artists Actors and Athletes Against Drink Driving) to share their platform for the launch of “Operation Drink-Drive1” which was attended by most of the Sydney radio stations as well as all three commercial TV networks and AAP.

Representing RADD on the dais was legendry rocker Jimmy Barnes who told the audience, “I have a reputation for years of being a fairly hard living sort of bloke,” Barnes said today at the launch of Operation Drink Drive I, which starts at midnight tonight and runs to midnight on Saturday.

“I like a drink and I’ve always been fond of having a good time but, I’ve got to tell you, from day one I’ve never ever in my life ever drink drove.

“It’s just something I decided. I couldn’t live with myself if I’d killed some kid in the street or had a crash in a car and taken away somebody’s parents or hurt one of my friends.”

Barnes, whose uncle was killed by a drink driver, is just one of 200 RADD ambassadors who police hope will help discourage drink driving.

Chief Superintendent, John Hartley, Traffic Services Commander, said, “I’m greatly pleased to have the support of Jimmy Barnes and others from Recording Artists, Actors and Athletes Against Driving. We appreciate it. I think this is a great partnership of having one telling a message from my point of view, but more importantly, someone [like Jimmy] who has credibility with drivers, especially younger people, about not drinking and driving”.

If you’d like to support RADD by broadcasting the brand new Jimmy Barnes CSA and others go to RADD Audio and download it.