Washington road deaths reached a 20-year high in 2021, with 663 fatalities. That’s according to a news release issued Tuesday by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

Preliminary data for 2022 indicate the trend in fatalities continues to increase, with more traffic deaths in the first quarter compared with the same timeframe last year. To reverse the trend, the traffic safety commission ssued a call to action for residents to work together to reinforce safe behavior for all road users.

“The increase in deaths on our roads is tragic, but we all have the power to reverse the trend,” said Mark McKechnie, director, external relations for the commission. “We can turn the tide and make this a safe summer. Most of us use roads safely, and we can also influence the smaller number of people who engage in risky behavior. Take an extra step and help someone close to you be safe, too. It’s as simple as reminding them to buckle their seat belt or put their phone away when they drive.”

Reinforcing proactive traffic safety in the community is the key to saving lives, and the focal point of the commission’s summer ad campaign,“Together We Get There.”

Historically, traffic safety campaigns focused solely on individuals engaging in risky behaviors, primarily through enforcement, the commission said. Community-based traffic safety culture enlists the support of the majority of safe road users to effectively encourage others to be safe.

The ad campaign is timed to coincide with the summer months June through August, three months which historically see higher traffic deaths than other times of the year. The campaign is running on social media, television and radio, video and audio streaming services, and community-based media outlets in English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Korean and Somali.

“Research shows that reinforcing safe behavior with someone you know can influence them to change,” said McKechnie. “Community involvement and a willingness to encourage others to be safe will save lives on our roads.

“That’s why simple things we each can do will have a big impact in saving lives,” he continued. “We drive distraction-free, put away mobile devices and encourage others to do the same.

“We fasten our seat belts, and make sure friends and family are buckled up too.

“We drive sober. And if we use alcohol, cannabis or prescription drugs that impair our judgement or reaction time, we avoid driving and plan a safer way to get home. And we make sure friends and family do the same.”

According to the commission’s Tuesday news release, the Utah Department of Public Safety deployed a similar proactive traffic safety culture approach in targeting counties in that state with the lowest seat belt use. Implementing a program that fostered widespread community involvement, Utah achieved a 20% average seat belt use increase from 2012-2019 in their target counties. Analyses showed that the change in behavior was more notable among those who had heard or seen media promoting the program.

“If we build a community of traffic safety around us, we can create the safe and fun summer we all deserve,” said McKechnie. “So, let’s watch out for kids playing ball in our neighborhoods, and our neighbors riding their bikes. We’ll slow down and give them space. Let’s all do the things we enjoy safely so everyone gets home each night. Then we can get up and have fun tomorrow, too.”