Sober Driving Reports
Cannabis Involvement Among Drivers in Fatal Crashes
February 2025
A two-page brief summarizing data from 2019 to present which is updated as new data is released.
Drug-Positive Driver Data Update
October 2024
A five-page brief outlining the methodology of drug-positive driver data updates from the Re-Evaluating the Prevalence of Drugged and Poly-Drug Driving in Washington State report.
NHTSA FARS Alcohol Imputation: From a State’s Perspective
November 2022
A 43 minute webinar using data from NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
Alcohol and Impaired Driving: Research and Policy Recommendations
December 2023
This Report to the Legislature in response to HB 1125 provides a review of impaired driving involvement in fatal crashes and an overview of five strategies to prevent and reduce impaired driving.
Victim Impact Panels: Who Benefits and Why?
February 2023
A two-page summary of a literature review followed by individual article/source summaries.
Focused Driving Reports
Distracted Driving Observation Survey Results
March 2025
A two-page brief summarizing the results of the distracted driving observation survey conducted in June 2024.
Spotter Patrols and Distracted Driving
June 2025
A two-page brief summarizing outcomes of distracted driver HVE spotter vs. non-spotter patrols.
Distracted Driving in Washington State During COVID-19
March 2021
An in-depth report describing the impact of COVID-19 response on distracted driving in Washington state in 2020.
King County Distracted Driving Surveys
2018-2019 and 2021-2022
Results from the King County survey conducted 2018-2019 and 2021-2022 measuring behavior, acceptance, threat perception, and intentions. Includes differences over time and responses by sex and race/ethnicity.
Seat Belt and Child Restraint Reports
Seat Belt Use in Washington State 2024
February 2025
Washington State has conducted surveys of seat belt use since 1986 showing annual trends in usage.
Spotter Patrols and Seat Belt Use
June 2025
A two-page brief summarizing outcomes of seat belt HVE spotter vs. non-spotter patrols.
Child Passenger Safety Observational/Intercept Survey
February 2024
A three-page brief summarizing child restraint use and child passenger safety results from the 2023 observational/intercept survey.
Seat Belt Use on the Colville Indian Reservation
November 2019
An observational study of seat belt use conducted in partnership with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.
Young Driver Reports
Policy Brief: Reducing the Risk of Injury and Fatal Crashes Among Young Drivers, 16 through 25 Years of Age
A review of 2016-2020 Washington data on the crash risks of young drivers who have and have not received driver education.
Young Drivers and Adolescent Neurocognitive Brain Development
A review of studies on adolescent brain development and its relation to driving.
Effectiveness of School-based Alcohol Misuse and Drinking/Driving Programs
A summary of studies providing insight on the types of school programs most effective at changing drinking and driving behavior among young drivers.
Motorcycle Reports
Positive Motorcyclist Behaviors in Clark County
A short report on safety and rider behavior during a motorcycle emphasis patrol in 2020.
Motorcycle Helmets: Laws, Effectiveness, and Economic Benefits
The effectiveness of motorcycle helmets in preventing or lessening head injuries among motorcyclists is now widely considered a settled matter by researchers. This brief report summarizes studies of motorcycle helmet effectiveness.
Motorcycle Lane-Sharing (Lane-Splitting and Lane-Filtering)
A review of studies on the safety of lane sharing, the practice of riding along the paving lines between streams of traffic on public roads.
Speeding Reports
Driver Speeding in School Zones
December 2023
This brief provides the aggregate results from the 2023 driver speeding observation survey conducted in active school zones. Included are the results for drivers and bus drivers, and resources for slowing driver speeds in your community.
Students Are Safer When Drivers Slow Down
Listed by School District
The WTSC conducted a driver speeding observation survey at over 120 schools in Washington State. These schools volunteered to participate in the survey. Each school was provided results. This page includes all the participating schools results, organized by school district.
Speeding Drivers: Results from an Observational Survey
January 2023
A two-page brief summarizing the results of the 2022 speeding observational survey.
American Indian/Alaska Native Reports
A three-page brief summarizing 2019-2023 AI/AN traffic safety, traffic fatalities, and fatality rates.
General Traffic Safety
Unlicensed Drivers on Washington Roads
February 2025
A two-page brief summarizing fatal crashes from 2019-2023 involving unlicensed drivers.
Traffic Safety Enforcement Case Filings
February 2025
A two-page brief summarizing traffic safety enforcement case filings from the Administrative Office the Courts. Traffic safety enforcement case filings include violations for driving under the influence, speeding, distracted driving, and restraint use.
Street Lighting and Safety Study
January 2025
The Washington Traffic Safety Commission’s (WTSC) Street Lighting and Safety Study pertains to the issue of street lighting and safety, and includes public input and learning from cities, counties, and state entities.
Pierce County Smart Signs
December 2024
A seven-page brief summarizing driver behavior before, during, and after the temporary deployment of Driver feedback Smart Signs at six locations in Pierce County.
State of the State: Washington Traffic Fatalities
May 2024
A four-page brief summarizing numbers and rates of fatal crashes 2021-2023.
Public Attitudes Towards Traffic Safety Enforcement
April 2024
A three-page brief summarizing public attitudes towards traffic safety enforcement from community listening sessions and a statewide survey.
What if Every Car Had Automatic Emergency Braking?
March 2024
A two-page brief summarizing 2022 crashes by AEB preventable collision-type.
Strategies and Technologies to Prevent and Respond to Wrong-Way Driving Crashes
December 2023
A report detailing strategies used in selected U.S. states to prevent or reduce wrong-way driving.
Driving During the Day and Night, Darkness and Light
March 2019
A two-page summary of a literature review followed by individual article/source summaries.