Crackdown Targets Washington State Speeders
Extra law enforcement patrols beginning July 16 in King County are part of a statewide "Slow down or pay up" campaign statewide and a push to eliminate deaths and serious injuries in traffic crashes by 2030.
Police departments in King County, Wash. are increasing their presence on area roads beginning July 16, targeting speeding drivers until Aug. 1 as part of the statewide "Slow down or pay up" campaign. The campaign is part of a larger Target Zero effort aiming to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from traffic crashes in Washington by 2030.
"Speeding may seem like a quick and effective shortcut, but in fact it is a leading cause of traffic deaths and injuries in King County and Washington State," said Dr. David Fleming, director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County. "Speed-related crashes harm individuals, families, and communities, and many people hurt in these crashes suffer life-altering trauma and never recover fully."
The Washington Traffic Safety Commission pays for the extra patrols. According to its records, speeding drivers killed 140 people in crashes in King County during 2006-2008, for an average of four deaths per month. That total is 44 percent of the county's traffic deaths during that period, according to the agency.
"Driving is a complex skill, demanding your complete attention," said Cesi Velez, South King County Target Zero Manager for the Kent Police Department. "Slow down and watch for sudden stops when traffic is heavy or the road has limited sight distance. Avoid tailgating by leaving a car's length between you and the car in front of you for every 10 miles per hour you're traveling. Road conditions and weather may also require a driver to slow down."