Impaired Driving Overview
The “most wonderful time of the year” is again here and it is up to all of us – especially this year – to do our part to prevent impaired driving.
Law enforcement officers will be doing their part to remove impaired drivers from our roads with extra DUI patrols starting December 16. But law enforcement alone can’t prevent all impaired drivers from possibly hurting themselves or others. We can all step in to offer someone a couch to sleep on or a sober ride home. When we step in, we can save lives.
That’s why the focus of our holiday traffic safety message is “Step In.” We are focusing this message on the people most able to prevent drunk or drugged driving – the friends and families in a position to act.
To help promote that message, we’ve been asking first responders across Washington to tell their stories and how they share that message with their own families and friends. Some tell short and emotional stories about how impaired driving as affected their own lives. These are stories worth sharing and you can download them here.
We’ve also included “Step In” messages in our sample social media posts and graphics, which we also encourage you to download and share.
And of course, we provide key messages and a fact sheet for you to use, as well as our most recent PSA video available for downloading and use.
Most Washingtonians (81 percent), when in a situation to intervene, take action to prevent someone from driving impaired. With your help this December we will encourage even more people to “step in” and save lives.
And that would truly make this a wonderful time of the year to remember.
Press Release
Olympia, Washington –
In December 2019, there were 55 fatal crashes on Washington roads, the most crashes in any single month that year, and occurring in 37 of the state’s 39 counties. Driver impairment from more than one substance – usually alcohol and cannabis – is the most common factor in deadly crashes.
This year, first responders in Washington are calling on residents to do something to keep our roads safe this holiday season. Through videos being shared on social media, police officers, state troopers, firefighters and EMTs have a simple message: “Step In” and prevent someone from driving while under the influence.
“Law enforcement will add patrols looking for impaired drivers during the holidays and this year is no different,” said Mark Medalen, Washington Traffic Safety Commission Impaired Driving Program Manager. “But law enforcement alone can’t prevent all impaired drivers from possibly hurting themselves or others. We can all step in to offer someone a couch to sleep on or a sober ride home. When we step in, we can save lives.”
First responders recorded the videos in early December, often recounting their stories of notifying a family that one of their own had been killed by a drunk or drugged driver. A few responders told their stories of being hit and injured by an impaired driver or losing their own family members to an impaired driver. And everyone agrees that these crashes and deaths are preventable – if people step in.
“We have heard from law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, and others who respond to these tragic and life-changing crashes every day. They have countless stories from their careers that are strong reminders that impaired drivers cause serious injuries and deaths on our roads.”
Many Washingtonians already Step In; 81 percent take action to prevent someone from driving impaired when in a position to intervene. Interventions include:
- Arrange or provide a ride
- Offer your couch for the night
- Arrange for a friend of loved one to stay where they are
- Engage someone else to help, including calling 911
“Impaired driving crashes are devastating to not just the victims, but also the first responders, family, and friends,” said Medalen. “We hope everyone will follow the examples of these first responders to step in and commit to preventing impaired driving in their own families. Saving a life is the greatest gift we can give.”
Our key messages are intended for those who can prevent someone they care about from driving impaired; we want people in Washington to know that stepping in to prevent impaired driving is something that most people will do and that it is a socially acceptable action to take.
- The “most wonderful time of the year” is again here and it is up to all of us – especially this year – to do our parts to prevent impaired driving. Step In and save someone.
- When people in Washington Step In we save lives.
- You Step In to prevent someone from getting behind the wheel while drunk or high. Stepping In is simple:
- Arrange or provide a ride
- Offer your couch for the night
- Arrange for your friend or loved one to stay where they are
- Engage someone else to help, including calling 911
- Working together we can save lives – alcohol impaired fatal crashes in the U.S. have gone down since the 1980s. Still, too many impaired drivers – from alcohol or drugs, or a combination of both – get behind the wheel. We can step in to change that.
- Because saving a life is the greatest gift we can give, step in to stop someone you care about from driving impaired.
- Patrols are on for DUIs this December – but saving lives is not just up to law enforcement. All of us can Step In and stop someone from driving impaired.
The Holidays in December See Increases in Impaired Driving
- According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 839 people in the U.S. lost their lives in traffic crashes involving a drunk driver in 2018.
- During the Christmas and New Year’s Day holiday period in 2018, there were more drunk-driving related fatalities (285) in the U.S. than during any other holiday period that year.
- There were 55 fatal crashes in December 2019 in Washington, the most crashes in any single month that year. Fatal crashes occurred in 37 of Washington’s 39 counties.
Most Washingtonians Drive Sober and Will Step In to Prevent Impaired Driving
- Most of us in Washington (78 percent) don’t drive after drinking; still Washington experienced 231 deaths related to impaired driving last year in our state.
- It’s going to take all of us to drive that number toward zero. And that’s exactly what’s happening. Most Washingtonians (81 percent), when in a situation to intervene, take action to prevent someone from driving impaired.
Using Alcohol and Cannabis Together Lead to Crashes
- Driver impairment from more than one substance – usually alcohol and cannabis – is the most common factor in deadly crashes.
- More than half of the drivers in fatal crashes who tested positive for cannabis were also positive for alcohol.
- By 2016, the number of drivers testing positive for impairment from two or more substances became the most prevalent type of impaired driver.
- If you use marijuana after drinking alcohol, you increase your crash risk.
Social Media Graphics
Please download and use these social media graphics that you can incorporate into your social media. First responders from around the state have provided videos about how impaired driving has affected their lives and how they “Step In” with their own friends or families. You can download those videos and use on Facebook or Twitter, as demonstrated in the first message.
We encourage you to share these messages now through New Year’s Day.
Washington’s First Responders Step In to share their stories and advice for preventing impaired driving #StepIn #TargetZero
Stepping in to tell a friend to crash on your couch may be the greatest gift you can give. Step In to prevent impaired driving. #StepIn #TargetZero
Most people in Washington will step in to prevent someone from driving impaired. Be a hero. Step In. Prevent impaired driving. #StepIn #TargetZero
Let’s give our first responders a break this holiday. Step In to prevent impaired driving. #StepIn #TargetZero
Everyone can prevent impaired driving. Most people in Washington (81%) will intervene to prevent impaired driving when they can. Take action. #StepIn #TargetZero
Stepping In is simple:
- Arrange or provide a ride
- Offer your couch for the night
- Arrange for your friend or loved one to stay where they are
- Engage someone else to help, including calling 911
Stepping In is simple:
- Arrange or provide a ride
- Offer your couch for the night
- Arrange for your friend or loved one to stay where they are
- Engage someone else to help, including calling 911
Campaign PSAs
Local Videos
First responders shared these messages about the impact of impaired driving across the state of Washington.
Region 1
Clallam County
Region 3
Cowlitz County
Region 4
Thurston County
Region 7 & 8
King County
Region 10
Snohomish County
Region 11
Whatcom County
Region 12
Chelan & Douglas Counties
Region 14
Benton & Franklin Counties
Region 15
Grant, Lincoln, Adams & Ferry Counties
Region 17
Walla Walla County
Radio Ads
Radio Reads:
:15 Traffic Read
When you plan ahead to avoid drinking before you drive, you’re helping keep our roads wonderfully, beautifully, boringly safe.
78% of us in Washington never drink before we drive – thank you for doing your part.
:15 w/ Brand
When you plan ahead to avoid drinking before you drive, you’re helping keep our roads wonderfully, beautifully, boringly safe.
78% of us in Washington never drink before we drive.
A message from Target Zero.
:10 Traffic Read
In Washington, 78% of us never drink before we drive. Thank you for doing your part to keep our roads wonderfully, beautifully, boringly safe.
:10 w/ Brand
How can you keep our roads wonderfully, beautifully, boringly safe? Plan ahead to avoid driving after drinking. A message from Target Zero.
