The Washington Traffic Safety Commission and Washington State Patrol are sounding the alarm about the state’s worsening traffic safety crisis. According to a commission news release, there were 750 fatal collisions on Washington roads in 2022. And as of July 2023, Washington has experienced more traffic deaths compared to the same time last year.
“We have seen more multi-fatality crashes in 2023, which is making this a historically deadly year,” said Shelly Baldwin, Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) director. “We are announcing these very preliminary figures because we need everyone’s help right now. Driving sober, driving focused, respecting speed limits, and buckling up are the four best ways to save a life,” Baldwin added.
The initial data from the WTSC show there were 417 fatalities through July 31, 2023, compared to 413 at the same point in 2022. Last year was the deadliest year on Washington roads since 1990.
While more total lives have been lost, there have been fewer deadly crash incidents so far in 2023 compared to 2022. This means deadly crashes are resulting in more deaths per crash.
“Saving lives on our highways involves everyone’s participation – and that includes passengers,” said Washington State Patrol (WSP) Chief John R. Batiste. “Driver decisions are an obvious factor in fatal collisions, but passengers have a duty to ensure their own safety by always choosing to buckle up. We need this disheartening trend to turn around, and we cannot do that without everyone’s participation.”
The WSP and WTSC are nearing the end of a summer-long campaign educating the public about the 90 Dangerous Days of summer. Over the past five years, the summer months have resulted in the deadliest 90-day stretch for drivers on Washington roadways. State and local law enforcement will be out and will be visible throughout the Labor Day weekend to provide an extra reminder for everyone to be safe.
Everyone who uses Washington roads can do their part to avoid the fatal four: impairment, distraction, speeding, and not wearing seat belts, the commission sai. All cyclists should wear helmets and other protective gear and be as visible as possible. Motorists should also watch out for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.
Among the 750 people who lost their lives in 2022 on Washington roadways, 565 deaths (75%) involved one or more of the fatal four behaviors.
“The power to save lives is in the hands of every driver on our roads,” Baldwin said. “Going into Labor Day and the final four months of 2023, we still have time change this trend. Please get a sober ride if you have used drugs or alcohol. Higher speeds endanger the lives of everyone, so please respect the speed limit. If we practice these simple safety behaviors each day, we can save hundreds of lives so that they will be here to enjoy the holidays with their family and friends.”
The nuts driving Olympic View Drive at 50mph or I-5 at 80 – dodging through the sane drivers – will only stop when caught and incarcerated. They’re way past public service announcements.
No pursuit law….what do you expect?
I agree with Susan. Today’s standard freeway driving methods appear to be tailgating at high speeds and changing lanes without signaling. Fewer police embolden the reckless drivers. The “slow down” electronic speed signs mean little to nothing for most. Speed zone cameras with automatic ticketing seem to work within the school zone, but just before and after the signage drivers speed. Are there no effective ways to reduce vehicular speeds and increase traffic safety?
Yes, there are effective ways, and Germany has them. Each village, town, city has a clear marker that you are entering, and it is expected your speed will be 50 KPH (~30 MPH). This expectation is enforced with a speed camera which then sends you a ticket. I received two during the 9 years I lived there – they were within 5 KPH over the limit and cost about 45 Euro. These tickets did go on your driving record. More congested neighborhoods with children were posted at 20 KPH (~12 MPH) and were camera-enforced. Even the Autobahn has areas where the highway engineers have determined slower speeds are needed; these are posted and camera-enforced.
The street in Edmonds I live on is posted at 25 MPH, and has a camera flashing speed signs. Drivers regularly blow through that 35 or 40. At some times drivers come through at highway speeds.