PORT ANGELES — Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and speed-related wrecks on the North Olympic Peninsula’s state highways were down by double-digit margins last year, the State Patrol said.
The State Patrol credits new emphasis patrols that place multiple troopers in known trouble spots.
Wrecks involving those driving under the influence in Clallam and Jefferson counties were down 15 percent, the State Patrol announced Thursday, saying there were 44 DUI-related collisions last year, compared to 52 in 2008.
Speed-related wrecks were down 18 percent — from 153 in 2008 to 126 last year, the State Patrol said.
Part of U.S. Highway 101 was identified as an “area of interest.” More patrols were made of the highway between mileposts 249 and 284, or from Port Angeles to the junction with state Route 104 south of Discovery Bay.
State Route 112 on the West End of Clallam County was another area of interest.
“This means that the area was not narrowed down to one small section,” said Trooper Krista Hedstrom, State Patrol spokeswoman.
Detachment offices on the Peninsula studied data over a three-year period and implemented weekly “saturation patrols” in 2009 with high-visibility emphasis and teams of several troopers.
“Weekly saturation patrols with teams of two to three troopers are conducted within these areas of interest,” Hedstrom said.
“Areas of interest are constantly changing, based on where we see a need. Our goal is to identify a problem before we begin to see fatalities or disabling injury collisions.”
Across District 8 — which includes Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, Grays Harbor, Pacific and Wahkiakum counties — the State Patrol said wrecks involving drivers under the influence were down 8 percent and speed-related wrecks were down 10 percent.
The emphasis patrols increased violator contacts by 7 percent in District 8.
DUI wrecks were down 45 percent in Mason County, up 23 percent in Kitsap County, down 21 percent in Grays Harbor County and up 23 percent in Pacific and Wahkiakum counties, the State Patrol said.
Speed-related wrecks were down 39 percent in Mason County, up 10 percent in Kitsap County, down 12 percent in Grays Harbor County and down 29 percent in Pacific and Wahkiakum counties.
Troopers made 250 DUI arrests in Clallam and Jefferson counties in 2009, Hedstrom said.
Troopers stopped 12,272 drivers for speeding last year and issued 7,937 tickets.
Aggressive driving led to 1,078 stops — a 34 percent increase over 2008, Hedstrom said.
