Washington has been combating impairment in motor vehicle crashes for decades. Impaired drivers contribute to about half of all fatal crashes each year. The impairing substances involved in fatal crashes are changing, most notably the increase in multiple substances. Poly-drug use, which is combining two or more drugs, or one or more drugs mixed with alcohol, is becoming most prevalent in fatal crashes.
The goal of the Impaired Driving Program is to reduce impairment-related fatalities and serious injuries on Washington roadways by identifying key focus populations implicated in the problems or communities that could contribute to the solutions, and to select and develop countermeasures to address impaired driving issues. A team of three Washington Traffic Safety Commission Program Managers manage the Impaired Driving Program. The Washington Impaired Driving Advisory Council (WIDAC), guided by the WIDAC Executive Board, advises the Impaired Driving Team.
