SEATTLE — As millions of people hit the roads for Labor Day Weekend travel, the Washington State Patrol (WSP) is already responding to a number of crashes and impaired drivers.
From Friday morning to Saturday afternoon in King County for the start of Labor Day Weekend, officials have responded to 70 crashes and have received 16 calls reporting aggressive driving. There have also been 14 DUI arrests, five of which arrests came as the result of crashes.
One of the major causes of deadly crashes is impairment, said Trooper Chelsea DeHart, a public information officer with Washington State Patrol in King County
“Definitely arrange a sober driver prior to drinking,” said DeHart.
Over Labor Day weekend in 2022, state troopers responded to a number of dangerous incidents in King County, including 21 DUI arrests, 448 speeding incidents and 118 collisions, with two fatal collisions. The agency also responded to 232 reports of aggressive driving and 60 incidents of distracted driving.
Trooper DeHart said she hopes people will be cautious and drive sober this Labor Day Weekend.
“We would like for people to slow down and increase following distance,” said DeHart. “Leave more than enough time for traffic and other collisions that could occur and then also drive sober.”
WSP and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission recently reported that 2023 is shaping up to be a "historically deadly" year on Washington roadways. Last year, in 2022, there were 750 deaths on Washington roads, which was the deadliest year for drivers since 1990.
Officials note the “fatal four” common causes of traffic crashes and deaths as impairment, distraction, speeding and not wearing seat belts. Approximately 75% of last year's deaths involved one of more of the fatal four behaviors.