Labor Day Weekend Traffic Safety Alert

Labor Day Weekend is one of the most deadly holidays for fatal alcohol-related traffic crashes. Nationally, it is estimated that hundreds of people will die in traffic crashes during the holiday period. As we approach one of the deadliest travel weekends of the year, the Evergreen Safety Council is issuing a Holiday Traffic Safety Alert.

“Chances are you will be sharing the road with intoxicated drivers during the Labor Day holiday,” said Tom Odegaard, Executive Director, Evergreen Safety Council. “We encourage the use of designated drivers and common sense to make sure everyone has a safe and fun holiday.”

Law enforcement officers from across the country will be cracking down on drunk driving over the Labor Day holiday and days leading up to it. The nation-wide crackdown, "Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over” involves concentrated sobriety checkpoints and other high-visibility enforcement efforts to keep impaired drivers off the roads.

“Even if you beat the odds and manage to walk away from an impaired-driving crash alive, the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can still destroy your life,” said Tom Odegaard.  Violators face jail time, loss of their driver licenses, or are often sentenced to use ignition interlocks or alcohol monitoring devices. Their insurance rates go up. Other financial hits include attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job or job prospects. When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators can also face tremendous personal embarrassment and humiliation.

“Driving impaired is simply not worth all the consequences. So don’t take the chance. Remember, “Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over,” said Tom Odegaard.

The Evergreen Safety Council offers these tips for remaining safe on the road:

Wear your seat belt:
• Buckle up! Seat belts reduce your risk of fatality by 45% in a traffic accident, but must be used to work.
• Use both lap and shoulder belts whenever possible.
• Insure a proper fit for your seat belt.

Never Drink and Drive:
• Alcohol is the single largest factor involved in motor vehicle deaths.
• Have a responsible designated driver when you head out for Labor Day activities.

Be aware of drunk drivers (here are some signs):
• Drivers who turn with a wide radius.
• Drivers at speeds 10 miles below the speed limit or speeding excessively.
• Drivers who are following too closely.
• Drivers who have a slow response to traffic signals.

Use defensive driving:
• Maintain a proper following distance from other vehicles. The rule of thumb is three seconds following distance plus one additional second for each hazard, such as rain or heavy traffic.
• Scan the road environment ten to fifteen seconds ahead of your vehicle.
• Check your mirrors and your surroundings often.
• Watch for tailgaters. If someone is tailgating, slow down to increase following distance and encourage the tailgater to pass.

ARE YOU ONE OF THE 70?

Target Zero Teams: 70 Lives Saved in King, Pierce, Snohomish Counties

Are you one of the 70? Is your spouse? How about your children? Your teacher? Perhaps that nice man who held a door for you last week.

Any of those could be among the 70 people in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties whose lives were saved since Target Zero Teams hit the streets one year ago. The $6 million demonstration project was launched July 1, 2010.

“We expected to see a reduction, of course. But this exceeds our expectations for the project,” said Lowell Porter, Director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. “70 lives in just three counties, in just one year.”

Of course it’s impossible to know exactly who wasn’t killed. But it is possible to say how many weren’t.

In each of the five years prior to launching the Target Zero Teams, an average of 203 people died in traffic in the three test counties. In the year immediately following launch, the number dropped to 133.

The Commission also found that deaths in King, Pierce and Snohomish compared favorably to two similar counties that were pre-designated as control counties for the Target Zero Teams demonstration project. Finally, while traffic deaths are trending down statewide and nationwide, the drop seen in the Target Zero counties is steeper than the general trend.

“We now believe this high-visibility enforcement strategy is impacting all crashes, not just DUIs,” Porter said. “When police are out in force, drivers tend to slow down and buckle up. That saves even more lives.”

At the core of the teams are 21 Washington State Troopers and sergeants, augmented by local sheriff’s deputies and city police officers as time and funding permit. The teams patrol in very specific places: areas where drunk drivers have killed in the past.

During the past year, Target Zero Teams from all agencies have arrested more than 3,400 impaired drivers. But State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste is quick to add that Target Zero is about much more than just making arrests.

“From day one we’ve said we would measure success by a reduction in fatalities,” said State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste. “These interim results make us think we’re on the right track, and we look forward to final results after another year of hard work.”

Target Zero researchers use GIS mapping software to record the locations of previous DUI-related fatalities. They also track locations where citizens have reported seeing apparently-DUI drivers. The information is quickly fed back to team sergeants, to help them make rapid, day-to-day adjustments in where to patrol.

Patrols are not limited to freeways or state highways. Troopers, deputies and officers go where the data leads them. That means state troopers might be patrolling city streets, or city officers on the freeway.

“This is a great example of what can happen when agencies work together,” said Seattle Police Chief John Diaz. “If you choose to drink and drive, we’re going to find you and arrest you.”

The demonstration project is funded by a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It follows a smaller pilot program in Snohomish County that produced encouraging results.

At the conclusion of the project, independent researchers will review the numbers and verify these interim results. The Teams, WSP and the Commission are heavily documenting their work. The goal is to create a turnkey planning document that any other police agency can use to create their own version of the program.

Contact: Mr. Robert Calkins Washington State Patrol (360) 596-4013 Ms. MJ Haught Washington Traffic Safety Commission (360) 725-9879

A few nice days…..and here come the motorcycles

Washington State Patrol Media Release

As we roll into spring many people in our state start dusting off their motorcycles and gearing up for a ride. Unfortunately, this is when the Washington State Patrol starts seeing an increase in motorcycle fatality collisions. We have seen traffic fatalities in Washington continue their downward trend in 2010, reaching the lowest level in at least 35 years. While traffic collisions have decreased overall, motorcycle rider deaths continue to rise. The top factors that lead to motorcycle rider deaths or serious injuries are impaired riding and speed.

Motorcycle riders need keep in mind the Washington State Patrol heavily enforces motorcycle endorsement violations. If you’re stopped on a motorcycle without a valid permit or endorsement you will be cited and your bike will most likely be impounded. Simply put, motorcyclists need to know how to operate and control their bikes to be safe.

We highly recommend that riders swallow their pride and take one of the many motorcycle safety courses offered to the public. There are courses available for beginner and advanced riders alike. If someone you know rides a motorcycle, ask them if they have taken a training course. It could save a life. (Evergreen Safety Council offers a wide variety of motorcycle, scooter and sidecar/trike safety training classes. Just follow the links we have included here for more information.)

Here are a few general safety tips for riders to keep in mind as you head out this season:

Assume you're invisible: Because to a lot of drivers, you are. Never make a move based on the assumption that another driver sees you, even if you've just made eye contact.

Be patient: Always take a second look before you pull out to pass, ride away from a curb, or merge onto the freeway from an on-ramp. It's what you don't see that gets you.

Stay in your comfort zone: Riding over your head or being on a motorcycle you can’t handle is never a good idea. Ride at the level of your training and choose a bike that fits you and your needs.

Keep this information in mind and please be safe when you’re out for a ride. Enjoy the unique spring weather that only Washington can offer.

Contact: Trooper Guy Gill #505 Phone: (253) 606-1998

Have a Happy & Safe 2011

Contributed by Norm Nyhuis, Trainer, Evergreen Safety Council
Many of us take a moment at the end of the year to look back to see where we were, where we’ve been and what’s ahead. We’ve had quite a year. One place where this fact is evident is in the area of issues surrounding driving, new laws, and new technology to make it all better.

Following are examples of each:

The State of Washington is now well on the way with the Target Zero program. The goal is simply to eliminate ALL highway traffic deaths by the year 2030. I believe it is possible, and recent results show that the increased efforts toward this end have been effective. Comparing highways fatalities from Christmas 2009 to 2010, the only fatality reported to date is a hit-and-run Saturday night in Auburn. During the slightly-longer 2009 Christmas holiday weekend, four people died in collisions statewide. “Even one death is too many,” said WSP Chief John R. Batiste. “But it seems we had a much safer holiday weekend than in previous years.”

Whether we agree in principal or not, there are new laws that affect all drivers. By now all of us should be aware that it is now a primary offense to operate a motor vehicle while talking on a mobile telephone, while holding it to your ear. Texting while driving is also a primary offense.

However, here’s a new law that you may not yet have heard of: RCW46.61.212 has been in effect, but has now been enhanced to increase the safety zone around emergency vehicles parked on the side of the roadway. Essentially, you must change lanes where it is safe to do so, at least two hundred feet ahead of coming to an emergency vehicle – with it’s warning lights flashing – or if you can’t safely change lanes, reduce your speed while passing though the “emergency zone”. The RCW continues by saying, “A person who drives a vehicle in an emergency zone in such a manner as to endanger or be likely to endanger any emergency zone worker or property is guilty of reckless endangerment of emergency zone workers.” If convicted, you could have your driver’s license suspended for 60 days.

New technology in our cars is amazing. Things Henry Ford, Gaston Chevrolet or the Dodge Brothers never dreamed of, are now commonplace. Just for fun, here’s an automotive technology advancement we may see become common, soon.

We at Evergreen Safety Council, wish all of you a Safe and Happy 2011.

Protecting Emergency Workers

Contributed by Eric Tofte, Director of Training, Evergreen Safety Council

On December 14, 2010 the Washington State Patrol announced the following in a media release on their website:

Enhanced Emergency Zone Law Will Help Protect Emergency Workers -Increased penalties start Jan. 1 for motorists who do not move over or slow down.

In other words you need to move over and slow down (maybe even stop) when you are approaching an emergency vehicle on the shoulder. An emergency vehicle is a patrol vehicle, fire truck, and ambulance and tow truck. Even though there was a law passed in 2007 requiring drivers to do this.

• In 2008, a year after the law went into effect, 30 patrol cars were hit by motorists on state highways.
• In 2009, another 28 patrol vehicles were hit by drivers during roadside traffic stops and other investigations.

As someone who has been on the shoulder of the road with an emergency vehicle (and all the red lights on) I understand just how inattentive some driver are and I am in full support of this law. After all if any driver tells me that they don’t have to pay attention to vehicles on the side of the road (especially emergency vehicles) then I say, this person is not capable of operating a vehicle safely should not be allowed to drive a vehicle on the public roads EVER.

Night of 1,000 Stars Patrols

Extra traffic patrols this weekend

KING COUNTY, WA — This Friday and Saturday marks the 20th year that law enforcement agencies throughout Washington have conducted “Night of 1,000 Stars” impaired driving traffic safety emphasis patrols. Each star symbolizes the badge worn by an on duty law enforcement officer.

“Let’s all work to make this a safe holiday season for our families and communities. Last year, 265 people were killed in Washington in impaired driver involved crashes,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County. “If you drink, make plans for a sober ride before going out and see that your friends have a safe ride home as well.”

The statewide Night of 1,000 Stars enforcement will remove impaired drivers from local roads. Impaired driving caused by alcohol – or some other drug – is the primary reason why people die in motor vehicle crashes. Officers will also be on the lookout for people who speed, drive aggressively, are not wearing a seatbelt, using cell phones illegally, or violate other traffic laws.

For more than a decade, the King County Target Zero Task Force has brought together law enforcement, public health, and community partners to reduce traffic deaths and injuries through extra patrols and other efforts. On average, 24 fewer people died in traffic crashes in 2007 and 2008, compared to the preceding five years in King County. In partnership with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, the Task Force is working towards the Target Zero goal of zero traffic fatalities by the year 2030.

Since 1999, officers, troopers, and deputies who worked these extra patrols have made over 28,600 contacts with dangerous drivers and arrested more than 6,200 impaired drivers in King County.

Agencies in Bellevue, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Redmond, Seattle, Snoqualmie, the Washington State Patrol and other cities and counties throughout the state will have extra impaired driving patrols this weekend.

This year’s Night of 1,000 Stars Patrols is dedicated to all fallen officers, the Washington officers who have died in the line of duty, and the officers who continue to protect and serve.

“Night of 1,000 Stars is an important dedication to all the law enforcement officers throughout the nation,” said Lieutenant Nick Almquist, Redmond Police Department. “Their selfless decision to protect our communities is being honored, especially our brothers and sisters who have paid the ultimate price with their lives.”

Source: Providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services for over 1.9 million residents and visitors of King County, Public Health – Seattle & King County works for safer and healthier communities for everyone, every day.

Washington’s Seat Belt Use Rate Jumps

Results from the latest observational survey of seat belt use in Washington were released today and they show that the use rate has jumped to 97.6 percent. This use rate is expected to be one of the highest in the nation.

Washington saw an improvement of 1.2 percent from last year’s seat belt use rate of 96.4 percent.

"The closer we get to 100 percent seat belt use, the more difficult it becomes to realize higher use rates," said Lowell Porter, Director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. "To jump from 96.4 to 97.6 percent is truly a significant improvement that moves Washington closer to its goal of zero traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030."

Washington’s traffic safety goals, strategies and tactics are found in Target Zero, the state’s strategic highway safety plan, developed by 85 Tribal Nations, not-for-profit organizations, private industry, community groups, and federal, state and local agencies.

"These last few percentage points represent people who have simply not gotten the message about the value of seat belts," said State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste. "It appears that enforcement is the only way to win their compliance, and we will not hesitate to use that tool."

The State Patrol cites about 47,000 people annually for failing to buckle up.

A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that for people killed or injured in traffic crashes, medical and lost productivity costs totaled $99 billion nationwide. Of that, $58 billion pertained to people who were killed.

"What’s much sadder than the monetary cost is the pain and anguish so many families go through," said Secretary of Health Mary Selecky. "People can prevent a lot of that by remembering to buckle up — especially young people. Teens have the lowest rates of seat belt use, so they can do a lot on their own to reduce deaths and injuries."

Each year a nationwide observational seat belt survey is conducted. During the 2010 survey in Washington, observers recorded seat belt use by 94,436 vehicle drivers and passengers. It was conducted statewide on a variety of road types following research protocols established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

"The increase of 1.2 percent in the past year means that one third of non-users in 2009 became seat belt users in 2010, truly an amazing accomplishment given that Washington has maintained one of the highest seat belt use rates in the nation for so many years," said Dick Doane, Research Investigator with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

In recent years the seat belt use rate in Washington has been:
Year - Rate
2005 - 95.2%
2006 - 96.3%
2007 - 96.4%
2008 - 96.5%
2009 - 96.4%
2010 - 97.6%

To learn more contact: Jonna VanDyk, WTSC Occupant Protection Program Manager, 360.725.9885 or MJ Haught, WTSC Communications Manager 360.725.9879, or visit Target Zero and Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

TEXT, TALK, TICKET

Contact: Sergeant Freddy Williams

Hang Up and Drive, take a virtual ride along with the State Patrol as they discuss the dangers of cell phone and texting while driving.

On June 10, 2010, driving while texting or holding a cell phone to your ear became a primary offense. The Washington State Patrol (WSP) has produced a short video that takes you on a ride along with Sergeant Freddy Williams as he discusses why distractions, such as texting or talking on the cell phone, are so dangerous.

The Hang Up and Drive video talks about the dangers motorists face when they are texting and talking on the cell phone while driving.

For more information about driver safety and other WSP informational videos, please visit the Hot Topics section on the WSP website.

Slow Down or Pay Up Press Release

Police departments in King County will inundate area roads, highways, and interstates with extra police patrols targeting speeding drivers beginning Friday, July 16 and continuing through August 1 as part of the statewide “Slow down or pay up” campaign. The campaign’s goal is to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from traffic crashes in Washington by the year 2030.

"Speeding may seem like a quick and effective shortcut, but in fact it is a leading cause of traffic deaths and injuries in King County and Washington State," said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County. "Speed-related crashes harm individuals, families, and communities, and many people hurt in these crashes suffer life altering trauma and never recover fully."

The emphasis patrols over the next month are a key component of the Strategic Highway Safety Plan: Target Zero. The vision of Target Zero is zero deaths and serious injuries from traffic crashes in Washington by the year 2030. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission funds the extra patrols.

According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, from 2006 – 2008, speeding drivers killed 140 people in King County crashes, an average of four deaths a month. These speeding-involved crashes accounted for 44% of traffic deaths in King County for that period.

The following police agencies in King County will conduct “Slow down or pay up” patrols: Auburn, Bellevue, Black Diamond, Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Maple Valley, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Normandy Park, North Bend, Pacific, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, SeaTac, Seattle, Snoqualmie, Tukwila, and the Washington State Patrol District 2.

“Enforcing traffic laws saves lives,” said Lieutenant Nick Almquist, Redmond Police Department, Traffic Unit. “From north to south and east to west, police departments are working together to enforce speed limits and make King County roads safer.”

“Driving is a complex skill, demanding your complete attention,” said Cesi Velez, South King County Target Zero Manager, Kent Police Department. “Slow down and watch for sudden stops when traffic is heavy or the road has limited sight distance. Avoid tailgating by leaving a car’s length between you and the car in front of you for every 10 mph you’re traveling. Road conditions and weather may also require a driver to slow down.”

More info? Contact: Matías Valenzuela 206-205-3331; James Apa 206-205-5442

Public Health- Seattle & King County chairs and staffs the King County Target Zero Task Force (previously known as the King County Traffic Safety Coalition). Members include representatives from a variety of King County law enforcement agencies, the Washington State Liquor Control Board, alcohol and drug prevention organizations, traffic engineers, non-profit organizations, and others. The Washington State Traffic Safety Commission provides funding for the coalition and other King County traffic safety activities.

Providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services for over 1.9 million residents and visitors of King County, Public Health – Seattle & King County works for safer and healthier communities for everyone, every day.

Washington's "New" Cell Phone Law

There is a new web page on why you should Hang Up & Drive, which explains the new cell phone law.

We are referring to it as the "new" law just to avoid confusion. We all know it's been around for a few years, and is just now becoming truly enforceable, although there are new elements with the teen restrictions.

What officers will cite for after June 10th when the primary texting and cell phone law goes into effect:
RCW 46.61.667 is the law concerning talking on a cell phone and driving which is $124 fine.
RCW 46.61.668 is the law concerning texting while driving which is $124 fine.
RCW 46.20.055 is the law concerning violations of an instruction permit which is a $124 fine.
RCW 46.20.075 is the law concerning violations of an IDL which is a $124 fine.

The HB6345 makes it a primary offense for a person with an instruction permit or Intermediate Drivers License to be talking on a cell phone. The rest of the statutes remain the same, which are secondary violations.

Officers will be stopping drivers for talking or texting under those laws no matter what their ages are. Then once stopped and they hand over an instruction permit or IDL, they could be cited in addition to the cell/text law for violating their instruction permit or IDL.

For more information contact the Washington Traffic Safety Commission or the Washington State Patrol.

Road Debris

Contributed by Norm Nyhuis, Trainer, Evergreen Safety Council

I commute a relatively long distance from my home to my office. While our modern highway system does a pretty good job of moving traffic, there is not a week that goes by when I don’t see at least one “situation” caused by the loss of part of the load from a vehicle. Even this morning I saw a car suddenly swerve into and back out of the next lane as they attempted to dodge heavy chunks of tree bark that was falling off of a load of logs, on a truck in the adjacent lane.

If your business operates trucks, and those trucks carry a load of some kind, you must insure that the load is secured. Sounds easy enough, but apparently this is not always the case. The photo shows a piece of debris removed from the north bound lanes of Interstate 5, in the early part of the morning commute, a few weeks ago, at the Ship Canal Bridge. Lanes on the bridge were temporarily blocked as Troopers quickly removed the over 200 pound steel ramp from the left 2 lanes, but not before nearly a dozen motorists ran over it.

Thankfully, there were no injuries as a result of the lost debris and most of the damage consisted of flat tires and bent wheels. However; the steel ramp did puncture the fuel tank of one pickup truck causing a small gas leak and fire, which was quickly contained.

The stories like this one never seem to end. Most of us “regular drivers” have our own stories of dodging debris either already on the road, or unexpectedly falling from a truck rolling along beside us. Even those weekend trips to the transfer station require that we secure our load properly so nothing escapes in route. Take a few extra moments if you are carrying a load on your vehicle to insure it is proper secured. Always keep a safe following distance (4 seconds or more behind the vehicle ahead) to insure you have adequate space and time to react in case part of their load should drop off. If you have questions regarding how best to secure your load, ESC offers a free online training.

If you have drivers working for you, or simply want to refresh your driving skills, contact ESC about our Eversafe Driving Course; do all you can to NOT become another roadway statistic.

A large “Thank You” to the Washington State Patrol for the information in this posting.

NO WSP GRACE PERIOD ON CELL PHONE ENFORCEMENT

Contributed by Tom Odegaard, Executive Director, Evergreen Safety Council
Troopers Will "Fully Enforce" New Primary Law Starting June 10-

(Olympia)-The Washington State Patrol announced today that it will not offer a grace period when texting while driving and failure to use a hands-free device become primary traffic offenses on June 10.

It is common for the state patrol to offer an educational grace period when a new law requires drivers to change long-standing behavior.

"Drivers have already had nearly two years to adjust their driving habits," said WSP Chief John R. Batiste. "We will fully enforce this law from day one."

Laws prohibiting texting and requiring hands-free devices took effect in 2008, but have been considered secondary violations. Officers had to witness some other infraction in order to make a traffic stop. The new designation as primary offenses mean police can stop drivers for a texting or cell phone violation alone.

Batiste is disappointed that the laws' previous status didn't win more voluntary compliance. In some cases there was outright defiance.

"They would look right at our troopers with phones held to their ears,"
Batiste said. "They knew that without another violation we couldn't do anything."

The texting and cell phone requirements are intended to save lives and reduce injuries by eliminating these two major sources of driver distraction.

Since the laws went into effect in 2008, WSP has written approximately 3,000 tickets and given about 5,900 warnings. The patrol believes the number of collisions caused by inappropriate use of mobile devices is greatly under- reported.

"Few drivers are going to admit they were on a cell phone, or texting, after a crash," Batiste said. "We are choosing to take action before a collision occurs in hopes of preventing these needless tragedies."

The fine for a violation is $124.

Distracted Drivers Are a Safety Hazard on King County Highways

During Wednesday morning’s commute an off duty trooper observed an erratically driven BMW passenger car in the northbound lanes of SR-167 in Auburn. The off duty trooper reported the vehicle as he was certain the driver was impaired as he was watching him for over 3 miles drift in and out of his lane, driving on the shoulder, and at times taking up 2 lanes of travel. It turned out that the driver hadn’t had a drop of alcohol, but instead was reading the daily newspaper while driving to his destination. The 53 year-old Puyallup resident was issued a $550 negligent driving infraction for his actions and disregard for the safety of the motoring public.

In June of 2009, a concerned citizen called 9-1-1 to report a possible D.U.I. driver traveling on SR-164 in King County. During the 9-1-1 call the reporting party describes how the vehicle was swerving over the center line, the fog line, and nearly hitting concrete jersey barriers while it was fluctuating speeds. Air and ground troopers coordinated a response and stopped the vehicle in Enumclaw. During the contact it was determined that the driver wasn’t impaired but rather texting on her cell phone. (Video of 9-1-1 call available upon request)

These are just 2 examples of many distracted driving cases that occur on King County highways every day. Talking on the cell phone and texting while driving continues to be the most observed driver distraction. A recent Virginia Tech study indicated that drivers who text while driving heavy vehicles or trucks are 23.2 percent more likely to cause a collision than non distracted drivers. In a separate study conducted in 2006, psychologists from the University of Utah concluded that “motorists who talk on handheld or hands-free cellular phones are as impaired as drunken drivers.”

According to the September 2009 edition of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Traffic Safety Facts, in 2008, 5,870 people lost their lives and an estimated 515,000 people were injured in police-reported crashes in which at least one form of driver distraction was reported on the crash report. While these numbers are alarming, NHTSA recognizes that distracted driving is highly under reported and that these statistics do not accurately indicate how big of a problem distracted driving really is.

Currently Washington State law prohibits texting while driving and talking with the cell phone to your ear, and is punishable by a $124 infraction. Other driver distractions are taken on a case by case basis and may be punishable by a $550 fine for negligent driving.

For more information contact: Trooper Dan McDonald at 425-766-0812 or visit http://www.wsp.wa.gov

HIGHWAY FATALITIES LOWEST SINCE 1955

This morning the Washington State Patrol distributed a joint news release, collaboratively developed by WSP, the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission: Highway Fatalities Lowest Since 1955—Deaths trending steadily toward “Target Zero” goal.

(Olympia)—Traffic fatalities in Washington have hit their lowest level since 1955, according to new data from the Washington Department of Transportation and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. The news is encouraging to state officials who are working toward “Target Zero,” the goal of having zero traffic-related fatalities or serious injuries by 2030.
To date, 522 deaths have been reported for 2008. That’s the lowest since 461 people died in 1955. The 2008 count will not be final until Dec. 31, and it’s possible a small number of delayed reports could still be received.

At least some of the good news is attributed to increased usage of seat belts. The number of deaths in which the victim was unbelted has dropped by more than a third since 2000.
“We have been strictly enforcing the state’s seat belt law, and that appears to be paying dividends,” said Washington State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste. “There’s no simpler way to protect yourself from ‘the other driver’s mistake’ than to buckle your seat belt.”

Washington has a 96.5 percent seatbelt usage rate, third-highest in the nation. Only Michigan and Hawaii have higher seatbelt use rates.

Along with enforcement, the other three components of Target Zero are education, engineering and emergency medical services.

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission funds extra enforcement through grants to law enforcement agencies. The Commission also funds educational outreach, sometimes including radio or TV ads that alert drivers to ongoing patrols.

“To reach Washington’s goal of zero traffic deaths we need to use proven strategies,” said Lowell Porter, Director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. “Combining enforcement with education is just that—a proven strategy that moves the needle toward fewer traffic deaths.”

The engineering component of Target Zero involves occupant protection built into vehicles, and highway engineering. Well-engineered roads reduce fatalities by being more forgiving of driver error.

“We all see these trends as very encouraging and believe, with drivers’ help, we can meet our Target Zero goal,” said Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond. “Safety is our priority when we build, improve and maintain roads. We are committed to reducing collisions, one of the leading causes of congestion."

Chief Batiste also praised emergency medical responders for their success in the Target Zero effort.

“My troopers are witnessing miracles at the side of the road,” Batiste said. “Paramedics are saving people who just a few years ago would have certainly become statistics. We marvel at their ability to pull injured people back from the brink of death.”

There was initial concern that the recent sharp drop in fatalities might have been solely caused by a reduction in driving attributed to high gasoline prices and the recession. However when agencies measured the number of fatalities against total miles driven the news remained good. “Fatality Rate” is the number traffic deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT.)

Washington’s traffic fatality rate in 2008 was .94 (point-94) deaths per 100 million VMT. That’s down slightly from 1.00 in 2007, and about half the 1990 rate of 1.85 deaths.
Not only are there fewer deaths, but the number of collisions is also trending down. In 1990 there were nearly 2,500 fatal or serious injury collisions. By 2008, that number had dropped to just over 1,000, even though miles traveled increased by about a third.

All three officials were quick to caution that there could be bumps in the statistical road ahead. They warned against getting too alarmed, or too excited, by any individual year. All three will monitor long-term trends to determine if adjustments are needed in order to reach the goal of Target Zero.

Contacts
Sgt. Freddy Williams, WSP, (360) 596-4014
Alice Fiman, WSDOT, (360) 705-7080
M.J. Haught, WTSC, (360) 725-9879

Successful Weekend in King County on Both Land and Water

In Seattle we have just wrapped up a beautiful Seafair weekend. Even with all the "stay-cationers" King County was able to keep its collision numbers way down. Below is a press release from the WSP. Stay safe out there.

Successful Weekend in King County on Both Land and Water

With record breaking temperatures and larger than expected crowds, the Washington State Patrol is pleased to report that there were no fatality collisions, and only one serious injury collision, on King County highways during Seafair weekend.

The WSP conducted safety emphasis’ on both land and water which resulted in the apprehension of 160 impaired operators and multiple other criminal arrests in King County during the 3 days of festivities.

During the land emphasis, troopers partnered with WSP’s aviation program and the motoring public to help patrol the highways for impaired drivers. During one stop on Saturday afternoon a concerned citizen called 911 to report a possible DUI on I-5 in south Seattle. WSP pilots (who are also commissioned troopers) communicated with the 911 caller and were able to locate the vehicle. The airplane followed the vehicle and observed it nearly cause a couple separate collisions while watching it drift in and out of its lane. Pilots coordinated a response and ground troopers were able to stop the vehicle before it caused a collision. The driver was subsequently arrested for DUI. This driver was one of 50 that were arrested on King County highways this weekend. Aircraft video of this stop will be available tomorrow morning upon request.

King County troopers partnered with marine units from other local agencies to make this year’s annual Seafair BUI emphasis a success. This emphasis resulted in the apprehension of 110 impaired vessel operators and no vessel collisions on Lake Washington.

Contact:
Trooper Dan McDonald
Washington State Patrol
King Co. Public Information Officer
District 2 Special Operations
2803 156th Ave SE
Bellevue, WA 98007
Work: (425) 401-7788
Cell: (206) 769-3962
Fax: (425) 401-7842