OLYMPIA — The Washington State Patrol and Washington Traffic Safety Commission want to remind everyone using the roadways this holiday season that safe roads come down to good decisions, the WSP wrote in an advisory Tuesday. Impaired driving, driving too fast, driving distracted, and not wearing your seatbelts are bad decisions that cost lives every year.  

“We all want the holidays to be about good times and good cheer, but in 2023, of the 810 people who died on our roadways, 78 were killed during the holiday season, WSP Capt. Deion Glover wrote. “That’s unacceptable. Help us save lives during the holidays and eliminate these avoidable tragedies.”  

Glover urged Washingtonians to make these good decisions every time they get behind the wheel:  

• Never, ever drive impaired and never let friends and family drive impaired. Fifty-one percent of our roadway fatalities in 2023 involved an impaired driver. Designate a sober driver, call a ride-share, use public transportation, or stay over rather than trying to drive home. Take those keys away from your impaired loved one and do whatever you can to keep an impaired driver off the road. 

• Slow down. Winter weather and high speeds don’t mix. Always know the speed limit and drive at a speed appropriate to the conditions. And yes, that means sometimes you need to drive below the speed limit to match the road conditions. Excessive speed played a part in 33% of 2023 fatalities. Speeding is a choice, and it’s a bad one. 

• Pay attention. Keep your eyes on the road, your hands on the wheel, and your phone in your pocket or glove compartment while driving. Set the GPS, stereo system, and temperature controls before driving, not while driving. Distracted driving played a part in 17% of last year’s fatalities. 

• Buckle up. Seatbelts have been standard equipment in cars and saving lives for over 75 years now. Yet at least 172 of the 810 people who died on our state’s highways last year were not wearing their seat belt. 

“We really do want everybody to get home safe for the holidays this year,” Glover wrote. “That includes you, everyone you know and love, and every stranger you meet. We are all in this together, so let’s make good choices and enjoy a safe and happy holiday season!”