‘Surviving Summer’ statewide driver safety campaign underway

OLYMPIA – A statewide “Surviving Summer: 90 Dangerous Days” campaign is underway by the Washington State Patrol and other law enforcement agencies, with a goal of reducing serious injury and fatality collisions this summer.

Since 2018, June, July, and August remain the highest consecutive 90day stretch for traffic-related fatalities within Washington. According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC), 1,206 lives were lost on our roadways due to fatal crashes within these summer months between 2018 and 2023, with law enforcement responding to an average 67 fatal crashes per month in June, July, and August across the state.

“Any life lost is unacceptable,” said WSP Chief John R. Batiste. “Changing the trends we have observed over of the past few years takes the effort of everyone in our community, including you as the driver.”

The 90-day period on average accounts for 32 percent of all traffic deaths statewide, with impairment involved in 55 percent of summertime crashes. According to WTSC data, the collisions most often occur on state routes and county roadways between Friday and Sunday. Other common contributing factors include speed (34 percent) and distraction (18 percent) during this three-month period.

“We all want to get out and enjoy the beauty of Washington during the summer, and we also want to get to our destinations safely,” said Shelly Baldwin, Director of the WTSC. “We can all stay safer by doing four simple things on our roadways: follow posted speeds, pay attention to other road users, drive sober, and buckle up.”

Those at risk are not just drivers – but also vulnerable roadway users such as pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcycle riders. Half of all motorcycle fatalities occur during June, July, and August.

July is when the greatest number of bicyclist fatalities occur.

Lowering the risk for everyone who shares the roadway requires a collaborative effort. Law enforcement partners across the state are asking everyone to commit to safe road use and help protect those around them to make this a safe summer.