Drive Hammered Get Nailed Patrols return to King County

August is a deadly month on Washington's roadways. More impaired statewide driving deaths occurred in August than any other month, according to statistics.

August 9, 2012 2:53 pm

August is a deadly month on Washington’s roadways.

More impaired statewide driving deaths occurred in August than any other month, according to statistics.

That’s why between Aug. 17 and Sept. 3 extra officers will be looking for DUI drivers during the annual Drive Hammered, Get Nailed campaign.

Auburn and Kent are among the many police department participating in the beefed-up patrols.

It’s up to all of us to keep our roads safe. So, what are signs of an impaired driver? Drunken drivers can exhibit a variety of behaviors depending upon impairment level. For example, those who know they are impaired:

• Travel slower than the posted speed limit

• Appear to be drunk (face close to the windshield)

• Slow responses to traffic signals, sudden stops, tapping of brake lights

• Travel side to side within and outside of their lane

Those who don’t think they are impaired generally drive a little more aggressively and:

• Speed

• Follow too closely

• Change lanes abruptly (weaving in and out of traffic)

• Travel side to side within and outside of their lane

The combination of one or more of these behaviors may alert you that you are near a drunken driver, so what do you do?

Dial 911. Though dialing 911 is encouraged only for emergency situations, what could be more important than potentially saving lives?

Last year in King County, during the same time period, officers on routine and extra patrols arrested 452 people for DUI. For all of 2011, in King County, 10,331 people were charged with DUI.

The Auburn, Bellevue, Black Diamond, Burien, Clyde Hill, Covington, Des Moines, Duvall, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Maple Valley, Mercer Island, Newcastle, North Bend, Pacific, Port of Seattle, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, SeaTac, Seattle, Snoqualmie and Tukwila Police Departments, and the Washington State Patrol will participate in this Drive Hammered, Get Nailed campaign.

The King County Target Zero Task Force organizes and supports the enforcement effort.

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