Slow down, buckle up and don’t drink and drive.
Snohomish County roads are expected to be at their busiest this holiday weekend, and police are asking drivers for extra caution and common sense.
“The biggest thing to remind people is that this is the last hurrah holiday,” Washington State Patrol trooper Kirk Rudeen said. “We want people to have a good time, but we want them to remember that traffic is going to be heavy. Bring your patience.”
The Labor Day holiday is among the deadliest on the roads nationwide. On average, about 200 people die as a result of drunken drivers each year, according to statistics compiled by Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Many people enjoy barbecues and other parties, often involving alcohol.
“Have a designated driver,” Rudeen said. “If you drink, don’t drive. And if you do plan to drink while impaired, we’re going to do everything we can to find you and arrest you.”
The Washington Traffic Safety Commission is contributing more than $22,000 to pay the State Patrol and other law enforcement agencies to place additional officers on the road.
In addition to the State Patrol, five Snohomish County police agencies will have extra patrols in place looking for drunken drivers.
“The solution is clear,” said Lowell Porter, the commission’s director. “Aggressive enforcement of drunk driving laws reduces the number of injuries and deaths.”
For the first six months of 2007, nearly 200 people have died in Washington state. That’s about the same as the first half of last year. In 2006, 252 people died statewide from drunken driving crashes.
In 2006, state troopers arrested 43 people for drunken driving but didn’t investigate any drunken driving fatalities in the county, Rudeen said.
State Department of Transportation officials are warning that traffic on area roads, especially U.S. 2, is expected to be very busy. Weekend concerts at the Gorge Amphitheater combined with other traffic will add to the congestion. Monday likely will see the highest traffic volumes, officials said.
Plan ahead, Rudeen said. Leave a destination a bit earlier to avoid traffic jams and if you plan on drinking, ask a friend to drive, take a bus or call a taxi.
“Get a cab. It’s not hard,” Rudeen said. “There are so many options available. And cab rides are cheap compared to what a DUI arrest will cost you.”
Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437 or jholtz@heraldnet.com.
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