Washington Traffic Safety Commission Launches ‘100 Safest Days of Summer’ With a Message to Slow Down While Driving
Partners with Safe Roads Challenge to Create Safe Driving Competitions Across Washington
OLYMPIA, Wash. – The summer months are the most dangerous months on roadways in Washington. In 2024, there were 253 fatal crashes between June and September, making the summer months the deadliest four-month period of the year. In Washington, 31 percent of fatal crashes involved a driver speeding. Fatal crashes involving speeding drivers in Washington have increased 52 percent since 2019.
This summer, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) is launching a campaign called the “100 Safest Days of Summer” to urge drivers to follow the speed limit to save lives. The campaign will launch with PSAs, airing statewide and at select gas stations, and an invitation to compete against other Washingtonians in a safe-driving app called Safe Roads Challenge. Simple changes like following the speed limit will increase the safety of everyone who uses our roads and sidewalks.
People are not always aware of their own speeding and how dangerous it can be. An increase of just 5 miles per hour above the speed limit reduces the amount of time available for a driver to react, while also increasing the amount of space needed to come to a stop. With less time to slow or stop, drivers choosing to speed are more likely to crash at a higher speed and cause severe harm to themselves and others.
In a new partnership between WTSC and Safe Roads Challenge, Washingtonians can download a mobile app that gives you a report card on how safe your driving really is. By joining the app, users can compete against other Washington drivers, earn rewards for safe driving and square off on the leaderboards. By competing in the Safe Roads Challenge between Memorial Day and Labor Day, Washington drivers can earn a chance to unlock big prizes, including a drawing with a top prize of up to $100,000.
“Summer is a time for recreation and enjoyment, but speeding drivers pose a deadly risk on our roads,” said WTSC External Relations Director Mark McKechnie. “With more families and kids outside, we are urging drivers to follow the speed limit. If more drivers choose to slow down this summer, we can all have a safer summer.”
Speed limits are set for each stretch of road based on a number of factors like curves, hills, sight distance, pavement condition, the road’s usage by pedestrians and bicyclists and its history of crashes. The posted speed limits are designed to keep everyone safe by giving drivers more time to react and brake, thereby decreasing the amount of deadly force in a crash. Rather than follow the flow of traffic, it is far safer for everyone to adhere to the posted speed limit, which exists to decrease the risk and severity of crashes on a particular road.
The Safe Roads Challenge app is available to all drivers through the App Store and Google Play Store. Beginning Memorial Day weekend, Washington drivers can start earning rewards for safe driving and competing against their friends and neighbors across the state for top scores.
For more information on WTSC and safe driving resources, visit https://togetherwegetthere.com/.