PROGRAMS

Tribal Traffic Safety

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission Centennial Accord mission is to work proactively with tribal governments statewide to reduce deaths and injuries of Native Americans resulting from traffic crashes. 

In Washington the traffic death rate for Native Americans is 3.3 times higher than the traffic death rate for non-Native Americans.  The primary cause of these deaths is impaired driving and speeding. These statistics become even worse if you look at them nationally.  Research indicates the death rate for Native Americans nationally can be as high as 3.5 to 5.0 times higher when compared to non-tribal members depending on the region of the country. 

To further complicate this trend, researchers and traffic safety experts agree that crash data on tribal lands is under reported, thus making these death rates even worse.  The most important aspect of this analysis is that the majority those who are dying are the tribe’s younger generation, a trend that is jeopardizing the future of tribal culture.

Grant Availability

WTSC is providing $50,000 in grant funding to support projects promoting traffic safety initiatives in local tribal communities.  To support this effort the WTSC recently completed an educational video outlining specific tribal success stories, local challenges, and resources to assist in promoting traffic safety on reservation roadways.  More information about WTSC grant funding is available on the Grants section of this website.

For information on engineering technical support and grants you can visit http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/tribal/

WTSC Centennial Accord Highlights

The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and WTSC continue to work together to implement the first phase of a three year traffic safety grant to improve traffic safety on the Colville reservation.  This project is based on the priorities and strategies outlined in Washington’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan – “Target Zero.”  BIA funding in the amount of $149,000 was provided to support this project which includes a Traffic Safety Program Manager housed in the Colville tribal police department.

The WTSC Tribal Traffic Safety Advisory Board (TTSAB) has completed is 2nd successful year and will continue to conduct quarterly meetings.  New members of the TTSAB include Jim Longley of the Nisqually Tribe representing the Tribal Transportation Planning Organization (TTPO) and Assistant Public Safety Chief Bill Peterson from the Kalispel Tribe who represents tribal law enforcement and EMS on the board.

WTSC provided $5000.00 in grant funding to support the WSDOT Tribal Transportation Conference held in Leavenworth in October 2008.

In May of 2009, WTSC, WSDOT, FHWA and the BIA joined many tribes in a 2 day workshop to identify strategies and recommendations for improving traffic safety on tribal lands.  These recommendations will be considered for inclusion as Washington updates its Strategic Highway Safety Plan – “Target Zero.”

WTSC continues to work with the tribes and the WSDOT to acquire critical mapping information to provide for more complete collision data. The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation will be the first tribe in Washington to utilize SECTOR electronic collision reporting software to help in this effort. 

WTSC provided $6,500 of overtime funding to tribes for participation in X-52, Washington’s state wide high visibility enforcement campaigns focused on impaired driving, speeding, and seat belts. Participating tribes included the Swinomish, Colville, Yakama, Suquamish, Squaxin Island, and Tulalip.

WTSC provided over $5,000 in grant funding to purchase child car seats, booster seats, bicycle helmets and other traffic safety items for local tribes to distribute in an effort to increase safety for their younger members.

The Native American Tribal Enforcement Organization (NATEO) received its 3rd annual $50,000 equipment block grant from WTSC.  This grant enables tribal police departments to purchase enforcement equipment to assist with increased enforcement patrols aimed at reducing fatal and serious injury crashes.

Police Chief Ralph Wyman, Chehalis Tribe, represented Washington tribal law enforcement on WTSC’s Technical Advisory Committee to assist in the agencies annual traffic safety grant approval process.

In 2009 the Tulalip tribe graciously supported the Snohomish County DUI Task Force with funding to improve traffic safety in Snohomish County.  This evolving working relationship between the Tulalip Tribe and the Task Force demonstrates the growing level of cooperation and support between the tribes and local governments around the state.

WTSC continues to work with the Lummi Youth Group and Feet First of Seattle to promote pedestrian and bicycle safety.  These efforts included the completion a walking and bike audit and funding to support efforts to bring attention to the traffic safety concerns on the route to the Lummi Ferry landing.

Resource Information

Centennial Accord Agreement

Contact Information