KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Law enforcement officers from all parts of King County will be out on St. Patrick's Day weekend to identify and remove unsafe drivers from the roads, including those who choose to drink and drive. Particular emphasis will be given to Highway 99 because of the high rate of alcohol-related car crashes on or near this highway.
"St. Patrick's Day is a great celebration of the diversity in our community, but let's make sure we keep it safe and don't have dangerous behavior and driving," said King County Executive Ron Sims.
Last year during the St. Patrick's Day traffic safety patrols around Highway 99, 184 people were stopped for unsafe driving, and 33 of them were charged with driving under the influence. In the past, Highway 99 has had five times the number of alcohol-related crashes compared to other state highways in King County.
"Alcohol-related car crashes are a leading cause of death and disabling injury in King County," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "Don' take the risk of drinking and driving. If you drink, stay home, take the bus or taxi, or have a designated driver who won't drink."
Officers from King County Sheriff and the Washington State Patrol as well as SeaTac, Federal Way, Shoreline, Des Moines, Seattle, Tukwila, and Kent police departments will be out in force on Friday and Saturday, as well as Sunday, March 17, St. Patrick's Day.
Officers will be keeping an eye out for drivers who:
- exceed the speed limit
- fail to properly restrain children
- exhibit evidence of drinking and driving
- commit other traffic violations
"Please don't drink and drive, because if you do, you'll be arrested. We're going the extra mile to keep the roads safe for everybody," said King County Sheriff Dave Reichert.
Since the King County Traffic Safety Coalition began organizing these traffic safety emphasis patrols in 1999, there have been over 2,500 stops and 300 driving under the influence arrests. Early indications are showing a decrease in alcohol-related crashes along Highway 99. In 1996, before these organized patrols began, there were 133 alcohol related crash with 44 deaths and serious injuries on or near Highway 99. In 2000, the numbers were down to 115 alcohol-related crashes and 25 deaths and serious injuries.
The King County Traffic Safety Coalition and Washington Traffic Safety Commission sponsor the St. Patrick's Day traffic safety emphasis patrol. Founded in 1998, the Traffic Safety Coalition is chaired by Public-Health - Seattle & King County and is made up of the law enforcement agencies listed above, the Washington State Liquor Control Board, community and health educators, victim's groups, traffic engineers, liquor industry representatives, and others interested in keeping drinking drivers off the roads.
Providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services for over 1.8 million residents and visitors of King County, Public Health – Seattle & King County works for safer and healthier communities for everyone, every day. |
