KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - On Friday, December 17, law enforcement officers across the State of Washington will be conducting joint traffic safety emphasis patrols targeting drivers who have been drinking. Called the "Night of 1000 Stars Project", this is the 9th straight year for the special holiday emphasis patrols. The "1,000 Stars" represents the badges of all the dedicated officers in our state that will be out on the roads on Friday. King County and surrounding cities will have 20 extra officers out patrolling our roads in addition to the regular patrol officers.
Increased holiday patrols aim to reduce the number of traffic-related deaths and injuries by discouraging drinking and driving and getting those driving "under the influence" off the road.
"The rate of injury and death related to alcohol use and driving is alarming. We must do everything possible to keep people who have been drinking off the road," said Public Health - Seattle & King County Director Dr. Alonzo Plough. "This is one of the most preventable causes of premature death and traffic related injuries," said Dr. Plough.
Officers will not only be looking for intoxicated drivers but anyone who is not driving safely. In King County, officers from the Washington State Patrol, the King County Sheriff's Office, and Sea Tac, Federal Way, Shoreline, Seattle, and Kent police departments will be looking for drivers who exceed the speed limit, fail to wear safety belts and commit other traffic violations. In addition, officers will be watching for pedestrians who are jaywalking and putting themselves in grave danger of being hit.
"The three main causes of death and injury are impaired driving, speed, and failure to buckle up. We want to do all we can to get people to take the responsibility themselves to drive safely and stay off the roads if they are drinking. For those who don't comply, we're going to be out there, and we will arrest you," said King County Sheriff Dave Reichert.
Reichert specified that the traffic safety patrol in King County will be especially concentrated along State Route 99. From 1992-1996, the section of SR 99 within King County tallied 952 alcohol-related collisions, resulting in 21 fatalities and 965 injuries. This was five times the alcohol-related collision rate compared to any other state highway in King County.
King County Executive Ron Sims applauds the county's collaborative effort to reduce injury and fatality due to alcohol-related crashes. "Fatalities as a result of those who choose to drink and drive are down. With tougher impaired driving laws in place since January 1, 1999, and the efforts of the statewide community traffic safety task forces including the King County Traffic Safety Coalition concentrating on Highway 99, 60 fewer fatalities occurred in Washington State so far this year." Sims added, "I am proud of the progress this collaboration represents and am proud of all our law enforcement officers."
"We feel strongly that people are getting the message that drinking and driving is dangerous, really costly and embarrassing and that's great progress. We're grateful for the work of the law enforcement officers who helped achieve this," said Traffic Safety Commission Director John Moffat. "Most counties across the state will be participating in this emphasis patrol," he added.
There are options other than drinking and driving. One example is TOWED, a unique program sponsored by K & L Distributors and Nextel and funded by individual towing companies in King County. Those who feel that their driving will be impaired from drinking can call (206) 730-2798 and the individual and their vehicle will be transported home free of charge, no questions asked.
The State Route 99 emphasis is coordinated by the King County Traffic Safety Coalition and Public Health - Seattle and King County and is supported by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
Media and Washington State legislators interested in riding along with officers on Friday, December 17th, can contact Elizabeth Tesh at Public Health Seattle and King County (206) 205-5866.
