WARNING: Seattle area drivers!

[Roy Hersh]

Speeding drivers targeted: “Slow down or pay up”

KING COUNTY, WA – Police departments in King County will inundate area roads, highways, and interstates with extra police patrols targeting speeding drivers beginning Friday, July 16 and continuing through August 1 as part of the statewide “Slow down or pay up” campaign. The campaign’s goal is to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from traffic crashes in Washington by the year 2030.

"Speeding may seem like a quick and effective shortcut, but in fact it is a leading cause of traffic deaths and injuries in King County and Washington State," said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County. "Speed-related crashes harm individuals, families, and communities, and many people hurt in these crashes suffer life altering trauma and never recover fully."

The emphasis patrols over the next month are a key component of the Strategic Highway Safety Plan: Target Zero. The vision of Target Zero is zero deaths and serious injuries from traffic crashes in Washington by the year 2030. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission funds the extra patrols.

According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, from 2006 – 2008, speeding drivers killed 140 people in King County crashes, an average of four deaths a month. These speeding-involved crashes accounted for 44% of traffic deaths in King County for that period.

The following police agencies in King County will conduct “Slow down or pay up” patrols: Auburn, Bellevue, Black Diamond, Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Maple Valley, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Normandy Park, North Bend, Pacific, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, SeaTac, Seattle, Snoqualmie, Tukwila, and the Washington State Patrol District 2.

“Enforcing traffic laws saves lives,” said Lieutenant Nick Almquist, Redmond Police Department, Traffic Unit. “From north to south and east to west, police departments are working together to enforce speed limits and make King County roads safer.”

“Driving is a complex skill, demanding your complete attention,” said Cesi Velez, South King County Target Zero Manager, Kent Police Department. “Slow down and watch for sudden stops when traffic is heavy or the road has limited sight distance. Avoid tailgating by leaving a car’s length between you and the car in front of you for every 10 mph you’re traveling. Road conditions and weather may also require a driver to slow down.”

Reporters and camera crews who wish to ride along with a law enforcement officers may make arrangements by calling 206-205-3331, or after hours or during the weekend by paging 206-583-9785.

Public Health- Seattle & King County chairs and staffs the King County Target Zero Task Force (previously known as the King County Traffic Safety Coalition). Members include representatives from a variety of King County law enforcement agencies, the Washington State Liquor Control Board, alcohol and drug prevention organizations, traffic engineers, non-profit organizations, and others. The Washington State Traffic Safety Commission provides funding for the coalition and other King County traffic safety activities.



I hate to be a skeptic, but is this campaign really all about saving lives or is it pressure from above for a nearly bankrupt County to do a major "fund raiser" with revenues coming at the end of a speed trap's radar gun?

[Eric Ifune]

My guess is probably both. Getting drivers to be more responsible is great, the local authorities getting more income is good for them as well.

[Glenn E.]

I hate to be a skeptic, but is this campaign really all about saving lives or is it pressure from above for a nearly bankrupt County to do a major "fund raiser" with revenues coming at the end of a speed trap's radar gun?

Allegedly, the county does not make any money off of traffic tickets. Supposedly the fine only counteracts the cost of writing and prosecuting the tickets.

And if you believe all of that, I have a bridge I'd like to sell you in Brooklyn.

[Melanie R.]

Uh oh, guess I better go see if my doctor can do anything about this lead foot.

[Andy Velebil]

Before anyone jumps to conclusions, do any of you know the actual percentage the city, state, and/or county gets out of the fine or different parts (base fine and/or Penalty Enhancement) of a fine? In California you'd be surprised how little money a city gets out of a ticket fine.

I don't know the total area and population of the county, but if it has an average of 4 fatal collisions a month, with 44 percent of them speed related, I can see why the push is there. As it could also be their Traffic Index is getting so out of wack with so many fatal's it's now starting to affect what state and federal grants they may be applying for, hence the need to finally reign things in a bit.

Regardless, It amazes me how fast people drive...like the lady last night on my way home doing 85 (in a 65 zone) and talking on the cell she was holding to her ear at the same time (which is also illegal) My record so far was many years ago where some tard, actually more like an idiot, was doing 62 in a 25 residential zone on a small 2 lane street and that doesn't even count the 100+ speeds I've delt with.

FYI, At 100 mph, your covering about 150 feet per second. Perception reaction time is about 1.5 seconds. That means your covering about 225 feet by the time you see something and are able to reaction to it, and that doesn't take into the account the time it takes for your vehicle to try and move out of the way of whatever object you're trying to avoid. At 70 mph your covering about 105'/second, or about 158'/perception-reaction...just a little more than 1/2 a football field. Again, that is only the amount of ground you cover after seeing it and making your first input to react to what you're seeing. Add in more time and distance to actually make the inputs and for the vehicle to react and navigate away from an object.

[Peter W. Meek]

I'll add a bit about tailgating, whether speeding or not: judging car-lengths is almost impossible. Keep 2 seconds between your front bumper and the rear bumper of the car ahead of you. It's easy enough to see when some road irregularity or paint stripe appears from under the car ahead (or its shadow) and count "one-thousand-and-one, one-thousand-and-two" before it goes under your bumper. That will keep you the proper number of car-lengths back. 60mph=88fps, so 2 seconds is 176 feet at 60 which is a slightly generous car-length/10mph.

Of course, it will also invite every jerk on the road to cut in on your front bumper, but that's another issue.

[Glenn E.]

Of course, it will also invite every jerk on the road to cut in on your front bumper, but that's another issue.

Since my primary ride is now a smart car and not a sports car, I have found that this really isn't that big of a deal. I'm typically driving slower than the rest of traffic - and in the far right lane, of course - so if someone does cut in front of me they rapidly pull ahead anyway. Meanwhile I'm getting 45 mpg and getting where I'm going almost as fast as everyone else. 60 vs 65 really isn't that big of a time difference in Seattle traffic. Plus I don't have to worry about speed traps.

Of course if I'm driving my Chevy Tahoe it's more of an issue. The Tahoe has the power to easily keep up with traffic, but of course it weighs nearly 3 tons and so doesn't react to input as quickly. So when someone cuts me off in the Tahoe, they're literally taking their lives in their own hands. I WILL NOT be able to stop if they've only given me a couple of car lengths of space.