The Impact of Impaired Driving...Too Many Deaths and Injuries During Summer
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Patrols August 18 – September 4 OLYMPIA, WA - Each summer in Washington State, an average of 149 people die in traffic crashes. That is the deadliest season of the year on our roads. During all of 2016, impaired drivers were involved in crashes that resulted in 277 deaths and another 371 serious injuries. Th[...]
Motorcycle Safety Patrols Begin July 28
OLYMPIA, WA — More motorcycles travel on Washington’s roads in the summer months than any other time of the year. Unfortunately, summer is also the time when more motorcycle riders are killed or injured in crashes. In an effort to reduce these crashes, increased motorcycle safety patrols start July 28, and run through August 13 in Pierce, King,[...]
Washington Traffic Safety Commission Honors Tahoma Senior High School Senior
OLYMPIA, WA — Washington Traffic Safety Commission Director Darrin T. Grondel honored Tierra Wilson, a student at Tahoma Senior High School, for her work to improve traffic safety among her peers. Ms. Wilson was recognized during Senior Awards Night at her high school on May 31, 2017. Ms. Wilson also won the $2,500 Safe Driving Scholarship[...]
Click It or Ticket Seat Belt Enforcement: Keeping Families Alive
OLYMPIA, WA ~ As Washingtonians prepare for upcoming summer travel, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission emphasizes the simplest step in keeping families safe: buckle up. The national “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement campaign will take place May 22 through June 4, concurrent with Memorial Day, one of the busiest travel and holiday[...]
Statement of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission on Gov. Jay Inslee Signing the “Driving Under the Influence of Electronics Act”
OLYMPIA – The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) released the following statement from Director Darrin Grondel, in response to Governor Jay Inslee signing the “Driving Under the Influence of Electronics Act (SB 5289)” today. “Distracted driving is a major cause of crashes on Washington’s highways. The new distracted driving la[...]
Moms Can Lead the Drive to End Distracted Driving
Statewide Survey Shows Moms Will Stash Phones for their Kids Sam Thompson’s mother Lisa in this powerful video being shared by mothers as a warning to their loved ones about distracted driving OLYMPIA –The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) today called on mothers to take the lead in modeling safe driving behavior for their c[...]
Outstanding Traffic Safety Task Force Coordinator Honored as Target Zero Manager of the Year
OLYMPIA – The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) honored Hilary Torres as its 2016 Target Zero Manager (TZM) of the Year. Torres is the TZM in Region 6, which is Clark and Skamania Counties. TZMs are traffic safety coordinators located throughout the state of Washington. These individuals support local efforts to assess the needs and cap[...]
Law Enforcement Giving Extra Attention – and Tickets – To Distracted Drivers April 3-16
OLYMPIA, WA — “U Text, U Drive, U Pay” is the message the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) is sending to distracted drivers in April as part of “Distracted Driving Awareness Month.” Drivers using cell phones behind the wheel are not only at a higher risk for a crash, during April they face a greater chance they will be ticket[...]
Washington State Award Winners Lead the Way On Improving Driver Licensing and Testing Standards
OLYMPIA – On Monday, March 27, 2017, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) honored two Washington State citizen advocates with the NHTSA Public Service Award at the 2017 Lifesavers Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. Citizen advocates Mi Ae Lipe of Bothell, WA, and Mark Butcher of[...]
New Statewide Survey Shows Cell Phone Use Greatest Cause of Distracted Driving
OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) released the results today of a first-ever statewide observational survey of distracted drivers. The survey found that cell phone use is the most common type of distraction, with 71 percent of distracted drivers engaged with their phones while operating their vehicles. Statewide, nearl[...]