The Redmond Police Department (RPD) will join law enforcement agencies statewide in an effort to keep roadways safe from drunk drivers with the annual “Drive Hammered, Get Nailed” campaign, which begins Friday.
August is a deadly month on Washington roads. From 2006-10, on average, more impaired-driving deaths occurred in August than any other month, according to Fatality Analysis Reporting System, which is why extra officers will be looking for drunk drivers through Sept. 3.
Drunk drivers can exhibit a variety of behaviors depending upon impairment level.
For example, those who know they are impaired:
- Travel slower than the posted speed limit.
- Appear to be drunk (face close to the windshield).
- Have slow responses to traffic signals, sudden stops, tapping of brake lights.
- Travel side to side within and outside of their lane.
Those who don’t think they are impaired generally drive a little more aggressively and:
- Speed.
- Follow too closely.
- Change lanes abruptly (weaving in and out of traffic).
- Travel side to side within and outside of their lane.
The combination of one or more of these behaviors may alert others that they are near a drunk driver. Drivers who spot this kind of behavior should call 911 to report what they see.
Last year in King County, during the same time period, officers on routine and extra patrols arrested 452 people for driving under the influence. For all of 2011, in King County, 10,331 people were charged with driving under the influence.
Other King County agencies participating in the “Drive Hammered, Get Nailed” campaign are the Auburn, Bellevue, Black Diamond, Burien, Clyde Hill, Covington, Des Moines, Duvall, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Maple Valley, Mercer Island, Newcastle, North Bend, Pacific, Port of Seattle, Renton, Sammamish, SeaTac, Seattle, Snoqualmie and Tukwila police departments. Washington State Patrol will also participate in the campaign.
For additional information about the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, visit www.wtsc.wa.gov.
