News Archive

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Today, the Washington Department of Ecology launched a new statewide safety and litter prevention campaign with its partners from the Washington State Patrol, the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. The We Keep Washington Litter Free campaign’s first initiative focuses on alerting Washingtonians that unsecured vehicle loads […]

New branding reflects agency’s goal of growing a positive traffic safety culture in Washington state Today, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) announces its Together We Get There brand, marking the start of the agency’s new systematic approach to improving safety on our state’s roadways. With this launch, WTSC joins a collective of forward-thinking organizations […]

New Initiatives Focus on Health Equity, Multi-Cultural Communications and Traffic Safety Culture OLYMPIA, WA — Traffic safety leaders in Washington released an updated version of Target Zero, the state’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan today, as Washington begins transitioning to the governor’s Safe Start proclamation. Target Zero is a bold vision to eliminate traffic related deaths […]

New Chair takes the helm as Association debuts updated policies and priorities WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dr. Darrin Grondel, Director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC), was elected to chair the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) at the Association’s Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia late last month. Grondel will serve a one-year term for GHSA, […]

Olympia – The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) would like to announce the hiring of Wade Alonzo as its new Program Director, effective July 2. “We are pleased to welcome Wade to the Traffic Safety Commission. We’re excited for him to add his many talents to our team, and for his commitment to helping us […]

OLYMPIA – They had suffered the ultimate loss. Three women lost loved ones in preventable car crashes and wanted to do anything they could to keep other families from experiencing the same pain. They came to Olympia determined to help lawmakers understand the need for a tougher distracted driving law. And they succeeded. Gina Bagnariol-Benavides of […]

Cell phone use while driving increases risk of crashing by three times Olympia, WA – On the road, off the phone—That’s the message from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) as they announce extra patrols focused on distracted driving, April 2-14, 2018. Statewide, over 150 law enforcement agencies will be out in force looking for […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 law signed by the governor today […]

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 […]

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 Sammamish, WA each received […]

Drunk, Drugs, or High, it’s a DUI Extra DUI Patrols in Force for the Holidays KING COUNTY, WA – Law enforcement agencies across the state are participating in extra patrols aimed at getting DUI drivers off the roads over this holiday season from December 15 to January 1. “The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) funds […]

The following news release is a sample of the release sent to Kitsap County. Localized releases were sent statewide. KITSAP COUNTY, WA – Heads up, Washington! April is Distracted Driving Awareness month, so make a commitment to leave your cell phone alone while you’re driving. Not only is it dangerous, but with extra officers looking […]

The following news release is a sample of the release sent to Yakima and Klickitat Counties. Localized releases were sent statewide. Yakima and Klickitat Counties, WA – The holiday season is nearly upon us, and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) would like to remind Washingtonians to plan ahead and use alternative transportation after drinking […]

Olympia, WA – Newly released data from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) shows that marijuana is increasing as a factor in deadly crashes. The number of drivers involved in deadly crashes who tested positive for marijuana increased 48 percent from 2013 to 2014. “We have seen marijuana involvement in fatal crashes remain steady over […]

OLYMPIA, WA — Former Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) Research Director Phillip M. Salzberg passed away November 8, 2014, at St. Peter’s Hospital in Olympia after undergoing heart surgery. Phil was born in Berkeley California, on June 19, 1947. He grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. He graduated from U.C. Davis with a […]

Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) is one of the nation’s preeminent independent, nonprofit organizations focusing on individual and social problems associated with the use of alcohol and other drugs. PIRE is dedicated to merging scientific knowledge and proven practice to create solutions that improve the health, safety, and well-being of individuals, communities, nations […]

Extra Summer DUI Patrols Kick Off July 1 (OLYMPIA, WA) With marijuana retail stores slated to open in early July, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) is launching a campaign to remind those planning on patronizing the new businesses that driving high is illegal. The campaign is called “Drive High, Get a DUI.” The new […]

“Click it or Ticket” Patrols Take on Texters and Talkers This is one sample of news releases customized by county throughout the state. SPOKANE, WHITMAN, PEND OREILLE, AND FERRY COUNTIES, WA – Ever wonder why Washington has one of the highest seat belt use rates in the country? It is due, in large part, to the […]

ANACORTES, WA — Longtime traffic safety activist, Nancy Mathews, lost her battle with cancer on March 9, 2013 after being diagnosed in December. Nancy died in her home in Anacortes and was surrounded by family. Nancy was born January 6, 1943. She lived in Anacortes until attending the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. She moved […]

This is one sample of news releases customized by county throughout the state. LEWIS COUNTY, WA – The results are in from the recent Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over DUI enforcement campaign conducted from November 21, 2012 through January 1, 2013. In Lewis County, 52 motorists were stopped and arrested for driving under the […]

This is one sample of news releases customized by county throughout the state. WALLA WALLA-ASOTIN-GARFIELD COUNTIES, WA — Lynn Ross spent more than $1,200 paying for the ignition interlock that he had to have installed on his Dodge truck as a result of a DUI conviction. The device is about the size of a cell […]

This is a joint release from the Washington State Patrol, the Washington State Department of Transportation, and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. (Olympia)—If you drive a vehicle in Washington, pat yourself on the back. Washington drivers are crashing their vehicles in lower numbers than at any time in the past decade. Fewer than 99,000 collisions […]