WSP Join CA And OR Troopers For 4th Of July Safety Patrols

SEATTLE — Troopers from three states are teaming up to crack down on speeding this holiday weekend.

Starting Friday, Washington State Patrol, Oregon State Police and California Highway Patrol will be teaming up for their "I-5 Alive" campaign, a traffic emphasis patrol putting extra officers on duty to secure all 1,381 miles of I-5 from Canada to Mexico.

An estimated 1 million Washingtonians will be traveling for the 4th of July weekend. During that time, I-5 is set to be one of Washington's most congested roads, especially between Lacey and Tacoma. And while drivers are certainly going to want to cut loose when they break free of that stop-and-go traffic, troopers say they're going to make sure no one is driving unsafely.

"Speed continues to be a leading killer on our roadways," said CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray. "Combined with distracted driving, it is even more deadly. We know people are eager to get out and travel, but reckless driving will not get you there sooner — it will just create dangerous conditions for you and everyone else on the road."

Troopers will also be on the lookout for impaired or aggressive drivers. WSP says its troopers saw a 27 percent increase in aggressive driving incidents between May 2019 and May 2020. May 2021 saw a slight decline in aggressive driving contacts, but WSP says there are still many more aggressive drivers on the road than there were pre-pandemic.

"Summer holidays should be a time of fun and family, not sorrow and tragedy," said WSP Chief John R. Batiste. "We ask everyone driving the I-5 corridor to slow down, pay attention, drive sober, and buckle up. When it comes to safe highways, we are truly all in this together."

Related Stories:

4th Of July Travel In WA: How To Avoid Holiday Traffic And Delays

Holiday Commuters Urged To Drive Safe, Stay Alert This Weekend