PORT ANGELES — Law enforcement officers from Neah Bay to Walla Walla will be on the lookout for lead-foot drivers through the end of the month.
Beginning today, 153 state and local law enforcement agencies will have extra patrols on weekends to catch speeders in the inaugural Slow Down or Pay Up campaign of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
Slow Down or Pay Up is part of the state’s lofty vision to have no traffic deaths or serious injuries from wrecks by 2030 in an effort called Target Zero.
The enhanced patrols will take place on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m.
“Regardless of the issue, police agencies get far better results when we work as a team,” State Patrol Chief John Batiste said.
“We routinely create task forces to deal with narcotics, auto theft or predators on the Internet. It’s only natural that we should take a multiagency approach to the important issue of speeding and the collisions that result.”
Every year, speeding and driving too fast for conditions are two of the leading causes of fatal wrecks.
The Traffic Safety Commission said speeding is the top cause of fatal wrecks involving teenage drivers and motorcycle riders.
Clallam County had 24 speed-related traffic deaths from 2004 to 2008.
Jefferson County had nine during that span.
Washington state had 1,166 speeding-cause deaths from 2004 to 2008, according to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
