SEATTLE — As the holiday season kicks into gear, more police officers will be patrolling roads across Washington state, specifically targeting impaired drivers. The increased presence comes in response to troubling data showing a rise in traffic fatalities, particularly those involving alcohol and speeding.
According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, the state has seen a sharp increase in fatalities over recent years, with the problem worsening since 2020. In Snohomish County, law enforcement is ramping up efforts, with up to 10 additional squad cars deployed on any given night to look for impaired drivers during the holiday season.
Stacey McShane, manager for the state's Target Zero program, emphasized the importance of visible enforcement in deterring impaired driving.
"We're hoping that by being out there and being very visible, we are deterring people from getting into their cars and driving. If they see us out there, they may decide to call for a ride share, a taxi, or make other arrangements to get home," McShane said.
For McShane, the mission is personal. Her husband's cousin, Nick Hodgins, a Decatur High School student, died in a car wreck days before his graduation. "He was killed after being hit by an impaired driver," McShane said.
The Target Zero initiative, which was launched 24 years ago, aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2030—a goal that is increasingly challenging to achieve. Despite improvements in vehicle safety, the fatality rate in Washington state has been on the rise.
Mark McKechnie, external relations director for the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, pointed to impaired driving as the leading cause of fatalities.
"Impaired driving is the number one risk factor driving our fatalities," McKechnie said. "Unfortunately, we're getting farther away from our goal at the moment."
The state commission reports that fatalities involving alcohol have risen 63% since 2019, while 69% of fatal crashes involved speeding drivers. In response to these trends, Target Zero has outlined new recommendations aimed at curbing the rising death toll. These include advocating for a reduction in the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit from 0.08% to 0.05%, expanding access to driver education programs, and pushing for upgrades to aging infrastructure.
The program's recommendations come as part of an ongoing effort to reduce traffic fatalities across the state. Target Zero also hopes to eliminate "driving school deserts" by expanding driver education to all areas, particularly those lacking access to such programs.
As the holiday season approaches, officials are urging all drivers—especially young men between the ages of 18 and 30, who are statistically the most at risk—to slow down and drive sober. Authorities are hopeful that with increased awareness and enforcement, fewer families will face the heartbreak of a preventable tragedy this year.