Traffic safety enforcement that targets speeding motorists and those who refuse to wear seat belts are the chief reasons behind a 37 percent reduction in the number of speed-related collisions along the North Olympic Peninsula’s state highways so far this year.
The State Patrol released its semi-annual traffic report this week, stating that troopers in Clallam and Jefferson counties have seen the reduction in the number of speed-related collisions along state routes during the first six months of 2010.
The 16 troopers and two sergeants that make up the two-county detachments on the North Olympic Peninsula have investigated 45 speed-related collisions this year, as compared to 71 during the first six months of 2009, Trooper Krista Hedstrom reported.
“Troopers have conducted weekly saturation patrols in locations identified as areas of interest,” Hedstrom said.
“These patrols, which include proactive speed and [driving under the influence] enforcement, have contributed to increased motorist safety and awareness in Clallam and Jefferson counties.”
Troopers have stopped 6,675 speeding drivers, a slight increase of 4 percent from last year’s 6,430.
Of that, 64 percent of drivers stopped for speeding were issued citations.
Bad stretches
Numbers have shown that U.S. Highway 101 near Discovery Bay in Jefferson County and 101 at Kitchen-Dick Road in Clallam County are stretches where most speed-related collisions occur, which is why troopers and deputies and emphasized patrols in those areas.
“We want people to see us there to where they drive by there they expect it and automatically slow down,” Hedstrom said.
“A lot of areas in Clallam and Jefferson County could have more speeders, but they don’t do it because we are there.”
Seatbelt use in Clallam and Jefferson counties has remained a primary focus for local law enforcement agencies, with troopers and police departments in Port Townsend, Sequim and Port Angeles conducting seatbelt checks on motorists during the day and some evening hours before the darkness of night falls.
Although the compliance rate for seatbelt use throughout both counties is at 98 percent, which is determined through monthly seatbelt surveys, troopers have already stopped 1,030 drivers in the past six months for failing to buckle up.
Throughout Clallam County between January and June, there were five fatality collisions. Three drivers in those collisions were not wearing seatbelts.
Jefferson County reported four traffic fatalities during that period. All invovled were wearing seatbelts.
Slow Down or Pay Up
Law Enforcement agencies throughout Jefferson and Clallam counties participated in the statewide “Slow Down or Pay Up” campaign between April 9 and May 1.
During emphasis patrols coordinated by Jefferson County Target Zero Manager Linda Pfafman, officers from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Port Townsend Police Department and the State Patrol made 250 traffic stops, 83 of which were for speeding.
Two impaired drivers were removed from Jefferson County roadways during the daytime speed emphasis, Pfafman said.
“People don’t like to get tickets and the don’t speed as much as they used to,” said Pfafman, Jefferson County traffic safety coordinator.
During the campaign, Clallam County Target Zero Manager Jim Borte coordinated emphasis patrols throughout Clallam County, which brought in 14 officers from Port Angeles Police Department, Sequim Police Department and the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.
“We’ve always had a pretty high seatbelt rate in Clallam County, Borte said, citing that in four of the fatal crashes so far this year were the result of no seat belts worn.
He said he and others are working on a new traffic safety campaign that informs motorists of the main causes of crashes — speeding, no seat belts, falling asleep, driving under the influence and texting or talking on cell phones.
Together, the police agencies made 233 traffic stops, issued 51 speeding tickets, made one arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol, and two felony arrests for outstanding warrants.
While the U.S. Highway 101 Corridor Project in Clallam County was officially closed in 2008, the corridor remains a constant area of focus for local law enforcement.
“By continuing our partnerships with the Clallam and Jefferson County Traffic Safety Task Forces and local law enforcement agencies, and continually participating in joint emphasis patrols throughout the counties we are working together towards the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injury collisions,” Hedstrom said.
________
Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.