King County Launches Campaign to Prioritize Traffic Safety During the Holidays

Agencies throughout county will deploy emphasis patrols to monitor for unsafe motorists

This holiday season, agencies across Washington are mobilizing extra resources to keep roadways safe during one of the busiest travel times of the year. These efforts are part of the Night of 1,000 Stars campaign, which recognizes and remembers the dedicated traffic enforcement personnel who sacrifice time with loved ones during the holidays.

In King County, High Visibility Enforcement patrols will be active between December 13-15 to monitor for motorists who are speeding, driving while distracted, or driving under the influence. During this time, the Kent Police/Fire Training Center will operate an additional DUI processing station, and extra phlebotomists and drug recognition experts will be working throughout the county.

“This is an opportunity to remind everyone that there are simple things they can do to keep our roads safe – like driving the speed limit, keeping their phone out of sight, and planning ahead for a sober ride home if they are going out,” said Sara Hallstead, Target Zero Manager, South King County. “We’re asking everyone in Washington to join us in showing appreciation by doing everything in their power to keep our roads safe this holiday season.”

The annual Night of 1,000 Stars campaign represents the 1,000 badges across Washington who are working to keep roadways safe. At this year’s kick-off, officials from the Kent Police Department, King County Sherriff’s Office, and Washington State Patrol will host a meeting and traffic safety briefing before dispatching patrols.

Extra patrols are partially funded by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission with the coordination of the King County Target Zero Coalition, which brings together representatives from law enforcement, public health, transportation, health and human services, and community organizations to coordinate traffic safety campaigns throughout King County. Target Zero Managers across the state are conducting similar campaigns, including in Pierce and Snohomish County.

The King County Target Zero Coalition encourages motorists to call 911 and report someone who is driving impaired, or if they observe someone swerving in and out of their lane and driving erratically. This can include speeding, braking suddenly or inappropriately, or making wide turns.

For more information, please visit www.kingcountytargetzero.com.

ABOUT THE KING COUNTY TARGET ZERO COALITION

The King County Target Zero Coalition is a collection of representatives from law enforcement, public health, transportation, health and human services, and community organizations that aims to create equitable traffic safety programs to reduce collisions, injuries, and fatalities in King County, Washington. The coalition uses a Safe System approach to build and manage programs that will prevent crashes and minimize harm, including speed reduction, pedestrian safety, and High-Visibility patrols. It is a partnership of Public Health – Seattle & King County and the Kent Police Department and is funded by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

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