Washington Sees 44 Fewer Traffic Fatalities

The year 2010 marked the safest year on Washington’s roadways in history, with 44 fewer traffic-related deaths than the 492 in 2009, according to Washington’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System. However, the currently known 448 deaths of 2010 are based on preliminary data, so the Traffic Safety Commission expects the number to increase slightly.

Washington has set a goal of zero traffic deaths by 2030 as part of its Target Zero plan. Developed in 2000, Target Zero identifies traffic safety needs and provides an inventory of strategies to meet them. The reduction in traffic deaths last year represents a significant step toward meeting the goal.

“The lives saved are a true testament to the effectiveness of Washington’s comprehensive and integrated approach to traffic safety – The Target Zero plan” said Lowell Porter, director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. “Washington’s traffic safety community continues to achieve traffic safety goals by using data to set priorities, identifying problems where the most progress can be realized, investing in strategies that work, and aggressively evaluating outcomes through continuous performance measurement.”

Washington focuses on public education, innovative safety engineering to improve roadways and vehicles, timely response by emergency medical personnel and strong enforcement of traffic safety laws, he indicated.

Chief John Batiste of the Washington State Patrol said, “Troopers will continue to take swift action on the three violations that we know take the most lives: speeding, impaired driving and the failure to wear seat belts. Eliminating those three violations would, just by themselves, get us most of the way to Target Zero.”

Topics Washington