Speeding patrols set in Adams, Grant and Lincoln Counties

Between July 15 and Aug. 7, law enforcement officers throughout Grant, Adams and Lincoln Counties will be part of a statewide effort in search of speeding drivers.

During the summer, there are a lot more people out and about, both as pedestrians and drivers. Unfortunately, some driving habits such as speeding don’t change.

It’s an alarming fact that even driving at 30 miles per hour on dry pavement requires a stopping distance of 41 yards. That’s eight car lengths or almost half of a football field! (Source: Lawrence D. Woolf, Ph.D. Staying Alive: The Physics, Mathematics, and Engineering of Safe Driving)

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission has developed a quiz to see how much the public knows about the dangers of speeding:

TRUE OR FALSE: About 20 percent of all traffic fatalities in Washington involve speeding drivers. FALSE. More than 40 percent involve a speeder. (Source: Target Zero: Washington State’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan 2010)

TRUE OR FALSE: A speeding ticket can cost as much as $411. TRUE. The average speeding ticket in Washington is $156, but as a driver’s speed increases, so does the fine. In fact, a speeding ticket in Washington could easily cost more than $411. (Source: WTSC based on the AOC Bail Schedule)

TRUE OR FALSE: Most of Washington’s traffic deaths occur on freeways. FALSE. Most of Washington’s fatal and serious-injury crashes occur on rural roads, which are often unlighted and undivided. (Source: Target Zero: Washington State’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan 2010)

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission and the Central Basin Traffic Safety Task Force urges all Washingtonians to take this speeding quiz. Visit http://www.considerthisyourwarning.com for these and many more brainteasers. Results will be tabulated on the accuracy of Washington drivers’ answers and available in August.

“Speeding is a major contributing factor in fatal and serious injury crashes in Washington, and therefore, is a priority of Target Zero,” said Lowell Porter, Director of the Traffic Safety Commission. “Well publicized and highly visible speed enforcement is a proven combination that reduces fatal crashes. Obeying speed limits is something everyone can do to support highway safety in Washington.”

For additional information about the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, visit http://www.wtsc.wa.gov.