Traffic Patrols Aimed at Reminding Washingtonians to Drive Sober This Holiday Season

From The Chronicle (Centralia):

More than 120 law enforcement agencies across the state will take part in High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) patrols from Dec. 14 through Jan. 1 in an effort to remove impaired drivers from Washington’s roads this holiday season. 

“As of the end of October this year, there were 639 people in Washington who died in traffic crashes, and whose chairs will be empty at holiday gatherings,” said the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) in a news release. “Each year, the holidays bring friends, families, and loved ones together. However, for too many families, this time of year is also a stark reminder of those who are missing from the celebrations.” 

In addition to the extra patrols, the WTSC reminds all Washington residents that there are simple things everyone can do to prevent impaired driving, such as planning ahead for a sober ride home if you will be out drinking alcohol or using cannabis. Friends and loved ones can help to prevent DUIs by offering a sober ride, calling a rideshare or offering a place to sleep. 

“Traffic fatalities reached a 20-year high in 2021, and preliminary data through October shows that there have been 15% more deaths so far in 2022, compared to the first 10 months of 2021,” said Mark McKechnie from the WTSC. “Every year, more than half of traffic fatalities involve impaired drivers.”