King County traffic deaths tumble
Traffic deaths in King County fell from an average of 188 per year from 2002 to 2006 to an average of 94 per year in 2007 and 2008, and, according the preliminary data, traffic deaths appear to have fallen again last year to 76, Public Health – Seattle & King County officials report.
Officials attribute the decline in deaths to strong enforcement of driving under the influence (DUI) laws, safer car design, road improvements, better driving habits, and seatbelt use.
King County’s traffic fatality rate is the lowest in the state, nevertheless, from 2004 to 2008, 568 people were killed in traffic accidents including drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists. Another 98,000 were injured.
DUI-related accidents are the leading cause of local traffic deaths, and for their efforts in curtailing drunk driving, King County is honoring DUI patrol officers from 28 local law enforcement agencies.
Since 1999, officers working on DUI patrols have made over 22,500 stops and arrested more than 6,100 impaired drivers.
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