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WEMS <br />A Decade of lncreasing Traffic Fatalities <br />The rise in fatalities has been both sharp and persistent: <br />. 201 5 saw a drastic 19.3vo increase in traffic fatalities, the largest single-year jump since data collection <br />began in 1968. <br />. Following this spike, fatalities stabilized between 2015 and 2019. <br />. ln 2020, despite pandemic-related reductions in traffic volume, fatalities climbed 6.7o/o,from 538 to 574. <br />. The situation worsened in 2021-2023, when fatalities surged by 20.2oro,from 674in2021to 810 in2O23, <br />the highest number since 1990. This five-year increase represents the most rapid rise in traffic fatalities <br />recorded in Washington State's history. <br />. Pedestrian fatalities were a record-high of 1 57 in 2023 and pedestrian serious injuries reached 472, also <br />a record high for the state. <br />This project will fund locally coordinated enforcement mobilizations to address impaired drivi <br />-distr.aeted driving;seat-belt safety; speedrn-g;-an-d m-orcrcycle saTetfi Funding an events will be organized <br />by local Target Zero Managers (TZMs) & the statewide Law Enforcement Liaison networks and their local <br />Target Zero Task Force. These patrols will also be coordinated with the Washington State Patrol (WSP). <br />Target Zero Managers will establish or strengthen relationships with key WSP district personnelto <br />improve interagency coordination. <br />3.1.2 Project Purpose and Strategies <br />This project willfund High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) and Traffic Safety Enforcement Program (TSEP) <br />patrols to prevent impaired driving, distracted driving, seat belt use, speeding, and motorcycle safety. <br />High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) and Traffic Safety Enforcement Program (TSEP) patrols are designed <br />to create deterrence by increasing the expectation of a citation/fine/arrest. Officers may also remove <br />high risk (impaired) drivers when encountered. So together, this countermeasure works by preventing <br />dangerous driving behaviors and stopping those who still decide to engage in those behaviors. <br />Funding and events will be organized by localTZMs, LELs, and their localTarget Zero Task Force. Task <br />forces will use local data and professional judgement to determine enforcement priorities for their <br />jurisdictions and will schedule and plan enforcement and outreach activities. Regional participation in the <br />following National Campaigns is mandatory: <br />. lmpaired driving enforcement during the Holiday DUI campaign (December 2025). <br />. Distracted driving enforcement during the Distracted Driving campaign (April 2026) <br />' Seat belt enforcement during the Click lt or Ticket campaign (May 2026). <br />. lmpaired driving enforcement during the Summer DUI campaign (August 2026). <br />These patrols will also be coordinated with the Washington State Patrol (WSP). Target Zero Managers <br />will establish or strengthen relationships with key WSP district personnelto improve interagency <br />coordination with the WSP. <br />3.1.3 Requirements for National Mobilizations and Traffic Safety Enforcement Program (TSEP) <br />3.1.3.1. HVE events will be data informed; based on crash data, anecdotal evidence, and the professional <br />judgement of task force members. WTSC strongly believes in the expertise of local officers to understand <br />Page 2 of 20