News

This is one sample of news releases customized by county throughout Washington.

Whitman County, WA – The results of the recent Holiday DUI enforcement campaign conducted from November 24, 2011 through January 2, 2012 were released today.

In Whitman County, 19 motorists were stopped and arrested for driving under the influence (DUI), and statewide, law enforcement officers arrested 3812 drivers for DUI.

In Whitman County, the Pullman and Washington State University Police Departments, the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Patrol, participated in the extra emphasis patrols, with the support of the Spokane County Target Zero Task Force. The extra patrols were funded by a grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

Last year during the same time period, officers in Whitman County on routine and extra patrols arrested 8 people for DUI.

During 2010, drinking drivers killed 188 people, representing more than 40 percent of the 458 people who died on Washington’s roadways.

This is one sample of news releases customized by county throughout Washington.

Law Enforcement Will Do Their Part with Extra DUI Patrols from November 24, 2011 through January 2, 2012

Law enforcement will conduct extra DUI patrols in Mason County from November 24, 2011 through January 2, 2012. Public education combined with strict enforcement is a proven method for reducing DUI crashes and fatalities. However, law enforcement officers can’t do it alone. We all need to do our part, just as Carol and Frank Blair are.

The Blairs have made it their mission to reduce the carnage caused by drunk drivers. On February 26, 2010, their daughter Sheena was killed when an SUV moved into her lane and hit her head-on. The driver of the SUV had a blood alcohol level of almost three times the legal limit.

While their grief is enormous, Carol and Frank are actively working to prevent drunk driving by leading many efforts to honor the spirit of Sheena and all other victims of drunk driving crashes. They urge every one to do their part this holiday season to prevent drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel.

“Don’t let our story become your story” said Frank Blair. “Call a cab. Call a friend. Plan ahead. No matter who you are, someone loves you.”

In 2010, Sheena Blair was one of 188 people in Washington who died as a result of a crash involving a drinking driver. Between 2006 and 2010, the five year total was 1,191.

This is why officers from the Shelton and Squaxin Island Police Departments, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Patrol will commit extra patrol hours to make the roadways safer for everyone. These efforts are part of Washington’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan to reduce traffic fatalities to zero by the year 2030.

Last year during the same time period, officers in Mason County on routine and extra patrols arrested 27 people for DUI.

The Mason County Target Zero Traffic Safety Task Force organizes and supports this enforcement effort. They urge you to join the team to prevent drunk driving.

National Teen Driver Safety Week October 16 – 22, 2011

During National Teen Driver Safety Week, October 16 – 22, 2011,  the Washington Traffic Safety Commission will kickoff a partnership with State Farm and Clear Channel Radio to develop a project aimed at reducing distracted driving collisions among teens.

Radio announcers on two Clear Channel stations that have high ratings in the teen market — KUBE FM and KISS FM — will solicit personal stories from teens about their experiences with distracted driving. The stories will be developed into radio public service announcements and videos which will be placed on YouTube and other social media sites. 

The research shows – and most parents agree – that teens listen to their fellow teens much more intently than they listen to older people, so the aim of the project is to increase the motivating power of the message. 

 “Our goal is to develop a peer-to-peer education project where teens are educating their fellow teens about the dangers of distracted driving,” said Andrew McVicar, State Farm Public Affairs Specialist.

The Traffic Safety Commission received a $50,000 grant from State Farm for the project. Other project partners include the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, the UW Medical Center, and Public Health Seattle King County.

Collision injury and death data shows that distracted driving is an increasing problem among teens, given the popularity of cell phones and other electronic devices.   Almost 5,500 people die each year in the USA as a result of distracted driving. Teen drivers have the highest proportion of distraction-related crashes.

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, killing more of them than cancer, drug use, homicide and suicide combined. Between 2004 and 2008, young drivers (age 16-25) made up 15% of all licensed drivers in the State of Washington but were involved in 38% of the fatal and serious injury collisions. Their lack of driving experience can contribute to critical misjudgments if they become distracted.

Another aspect of the project involves promoting the anti-distracted driving message with high school-based service learning projects.

National Teen Driver Safety Week, promoted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission, is October 16 – 22. 

“We are grateful for the ongoing partnership with State Farm and their support of traffic safety initiatives,” said Lowell Porter, Traffic Safety Commission director. “During times of diminishing resources, financial support from State Farm makes a significant difference as we work to reduce the numbers of those killed and injured on Washington roads.”

This is one sample of 24 news releases customized by county or tribe throughout Washington.

Pacific County, WA – The results are in from the recent Drive Hammered, Get Nailed enforcement campaign conducted from August 19 through September 5.

In Pacific County, officers on routine and extra patrols arrested nine motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI), and statewide, law enforcement officers arrested 1,824 drivers for DUI.

In Pacific County, the Raymond and South Bend Police Departments, the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Patrol participated in the extra DUI patrols, with the support of the Pacific County Target Zero Task Force. The extra patrols were funded by a grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

More than 40 percent of the DUI traffic deaths occur in Washington during the summer months. That is why these extra patrols are so important and are helping to make a difference. According to preliminary 2010 data, the number of DUI traffic deaths decreased by 16.5 percent compared to the previous five year average.

—waTikiLeaks.com Covers Pierce, King and Snohomish Counties

(Olympia) — Do you want to know when and where officers will be looking for people Driving Under the Influence (DUI)? If you’re planning on driving in Pierce, King or Snohomish Counties, you can go to the web for that.

waTikiLeaks.com has a Washington state map with those three counties activated. Click on a county and you get dates, times and locations for upcoming DUI patrols.

The site has a mobile version, so you can easily view the information on your smart phone. waTikiLeaks.com has sharing options so you can effortlessly share information on Twitter or Facebook.

Pierce, King and Snohomish Counties are participating in a special two-year Target Zero Teams project, with a goal of reducing deaths caused by DUI. To reach the goal, the Teams are doing what they can to deter and take enforcement against DUI.

Information on waTikiLeaks.com is posted by local Traffic Safety Task Forces who are participating in Target Zero Teams. Why are they leaking information that could help drivers avoid tickets and arrests? The task forces promote safe driving on a community level, and one method is to encourage sober driving.

The site is sponsored by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.