The lives of 5,624 people were lost on Washington State roadways due to traffic-related crashes over the past decade – 20 percent of whom were killed either walking or riding a bicycle. Each one of these individual tragedies leaves behind countless loved ones affected by the loss.  Each person killed leaves behind people who cared deeply about them – parents, children, siblings, spouses, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and others. They are missed every day.

We pause to remember all of them on November 19^th, as part of the World Day of Remembrance for Traffic Victims.

“The Washington Traffic Safety Commission works every day to prevent these tragedies. We do this by increasing our understanding of the underlying causes so that we can act before it’s too late,” said Shelly Baldwin, WTSC Director. “These are not accidents. Fatal crashes are preventable.”

“Obtaining a driver license requires knowing safe driving practices,” said Marcus Glasper, director of the Department of Licensing. “Injuries and fatalities can be significantly reduced by applying that knowledge every time you drive.”

In 2023, the Commission sponsored a statewide survey of adults on various aspects of traffic safety. Survey responses came from all Washington counties and major demographic groups by age, gender, race, and ethnicity. A total of 10,964 Washington adults completed valid surveys.

A majority (51 percent) of respondents said it was moderately to extremely dangerous to drive on public roads in Washington. The rates were higher for walking or jogging (55 percent) or riding a bicycle (80 percent). Public transportation was considered the safest mode of travel by 69 percent of survey respondents.

People who travel on our roads understand some of the risks more than others. Seventy-five percent said that it is “very or extremely dangerous” to drive after consuming potentially impairing prescription drugs, and 85 percent said that manipulating cell phones with your hands while driving was also very or extremely dangerous. Compared to previous decades, there is much greater recognition of the dangers of driving impaired or being distracted on the road.

On the other hand, a mere 32 percent said that driving 10 miles per hour (mph) or more over the speed limit is “very or extremely dangerous.” Speeding has remained more common and acceptable.

“Speeding and erratic driving are a growing problem on our roadways,” said Washington’s Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar. “We need to recognize the speed and safety tradeoffs and give a little on speed to save so much more overall. As long as higher speeds are the norm, we know more people will die and more families will experience the tragic loss of a loved one.”

Washington saw the highest number of pedestrian fatalities on record in 2021. They fell only slightly last year. Excessive speed contributes to serious crashes in fundamental and important ways. Speed narrows our vision and attention, reduces reaction time and stopping distance, and increases crash forces exponentially.

Speed literally kills, and the reasons come down to basic biology and physics. At 25 mph or less, 90 percent of pedestrians will survive a collision. Due to force increasing exponentially with speed, a pedestrian is five times more likely to die when struck by a vehicle travelling 42 mph, compared to a vehicle travelling 23 mph.

An encouraging sign from the survey was that 58 percent of Washington adults would be very or extremely comfortable asking someone who is speeding or driving aggressively to slow down.

“We can honor those we have lost by actively choosing to buckle up, slow down, drive sober, and be focused on actually driving,” said Washington State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste. “Any other choice can lead to the loss of someone we love, which is an outcome we all must work together to make come to an end.”

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OLYMPIA, WA — More motorcycles travel on Washington’s roads in the summer months than any other time of the year. Officials are concerned that fatal motorcycle crashes continue to increase in our state. In a continued effort to reduce these crashes, increased safety patrols will be visible July 7 and run through July 23 in Pierce, King, and Snohomish Counties.

The patrols will focus on illegal driving behaviors by both motorcycle riders and other vehicle drivers. Local law enforcement agencies, along with the Washington State Patrol, will be working overtime focused on drivers and riders who commit traffic safety violations.

“The increasing number of motorcycle rider deaths is very concerning and we know that we can all work to prevent these deaths,” said Shelly Baldwin, Director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. “Drivers can watch out for motorcyclists. Riders can improve their skills through training. All of us can respect speed limits and ride and drive sober.”

From 2018 through 2022, motorcycles made up just 3 percent of the registered vehicles on Washington’s roads but accounted for 16 percent of all traffic fatalities (492 of 3,076). In 2022 alone, preliminary data shows 132 motorcycle rider fatalities in Washington, possibly the most in a single year in our state’s history. This was a 43 percent increase over 2021.

While about two-thirds of fatal motorcycle crashes involved another vehicle, illegal and dangerous actions by the rider including speeding, losing control in corners and curves, improper passing, and riding under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs were the main contributing factors cited in these crashes.

“Summer events can bring thousands of people together from across our state,” Baldwin added. “We want to ensure that everyone enjoys the journey and arrives back home safely.”

In June 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a study supporting the effectiveness of law enforcement patrols in reducing unsafe driving behavior and crashes. The WTSC and participating law enforcement agencies condemn profiling. Trained and commissioned law enforcement officers will be conducting these patrols enforcing traffic violations as defined by Washington State laws.

For training and safety videos, gear recommendations, and other information on Washington’s motorcycle safety program, please visit https://www.ridesaferideon.com/.

These and all extra law enforcement patrols sponsored by WTSC are part of Target Zero—striving to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on Washington’s roadways. For more information, visit www.targetzero.com. Additional information on the Washington Traffic Safety Commission can be found on the website, www.wtsc.wa.gov.

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Source: WTSC Research and Data Division:

Year	Total Traffic Fatalities	Motorcycle Fatalities	Percentage of Total
2018	539	80	15%
2019	538	95	18%
2020	574	93	16%
2021	675	92	14%
2022 (preliminary)	750	132	18%
Totals	3,076	492	16%

For journalists on word choice:

A “crash” or “collision” happens when a vehicle collides with another object. Using the word “accident” assumes it was a bizarre occurrence that no one could have stopped, when in fact the circumstances leading up to 90 percent of car crashes are predictable and preventable. WTSC is seeing and hearing “crash” or “collision” in the news more often lately and wants to thank journalists who are making this insightful choice.

 

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission’s (WTSC) initial data for 2022 shows the greatest number of deaths on Washington roads and highways since 1990. Preliminary reports show that 745 people were killed in crashes last year.

Impairment by drugs and alcohol is involved in more than half of fatal crashes. According to a December 2022 report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “Alcohol-involved crashes resulted in 14,219 fatalities, 497,000 nonfatal injuries, and $68.9 billion in economic costs in 2019….” Continue Reading 2022 Saw Most Traffic Deaths on Washington Roads Since 1990