Between Aug. 12 and September 6 extra driving under the influence or DUI patrols will travel King County roadways in search of impaired drivers.

This Drive Hammered, Get Nailed will be the largest summer DUI enforcement campaign ever with 172 agencies participating throughout the state including officers from Covington, Maple Valley and Black Diamond.

Also participating are Algona, Auburn, Bellevue, Burien, Clyde Hill, Des Moines, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Normandy Park, North Bend, Pacific, Port of Seattle, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, SeaTac, Seattle, Snoqualmie, and Tukwila Police Departments, and the Washington State Patrol. The Bothell Police Department will also conduct patrols as part of the Snohomish County DUI and Target Zero Task Force.

During the summer months – July through September – Washington experiences the greatest number of alcohol or drug impaired driver-involved traffic deaths (31 percent of the total impaired driving deaths occurred during the summer months between 2000 and 2009). And Labor Day weekend is one of Washington’s deadliest holidays, averaging more than seven deaths each year.

Impaired driving is the leading factor in traffic deaths in Washington. Last year, impaired drivers contributed to the deaths of more than half of the 491 people who died on Washington’s roadways. The 264 impaired driver-involved deaths in 2009 represent a decrease of nine fatalities compared to the previous five-year average of 273.

The following are the total deaths involving an alcohol or drug impaired driver in Washington from 2005-2009.

2005 – 285

2006 – 301

2007 – 272

2008 – 255

2009 – 264

“Impaired driving continues to be the number one factor contributing to traffic deaths both nationally and in Washington, and is therefore the top priority for traffic safety professionals across the country. Every life lost at the hands of an impaired driver is preventable which makes each tragic death even more painful to the families and friends who suffer the loss of a loved one,” said Lowell Porter, director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

Although this emphasis patrol is occurring during the summer, law enforcement statewide conducts extra DUI enforcement throughout the year. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission funds grants for the extra patrols called X52, which is a part of Washington’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan, also known as Target Zero. The goal of Target Zero is to eliminate all traffic deaths and serious injuries in Washington by 2030.

For additional information about the <a href="http://www.wtsc.wa.gov/" title="

Washington Traffic Safety Commission” target=”blank”>Washington Traffic Safety Commission visit the website.