WA traffic deaths horrifically high, and Tri-Cities is adding to those grim stats

There’s been an unsettling string of traffic fatalities in the Tri-City area recently that have broken hearts and shattered lives.

While car accidents are unfortunately nothing new, the week-after-week reporting of local lives tragically lost begs the question: “Why so many lately?”

Do we blame law enforcement staff shortages that make it tougher for officers to monitor roads like they used to? Do we really need to remind people not to drink and drive? Not to speed?

Where is the recklessness coming from?

As it turns out, this tragic trend is not unique to our community. Statewide, traffic deaths have been on a steep rise — and it’s alarming.

Washington’s Traffic Safety Commission released a report in January that shows traffic fatalities and serious injuries have escalated, and sadly, 2022 appears to be off to a horrific start.

The commission report showed that traffic deaths statewide had been on the decline with 2013 marking a 20-year-low with 436 traffic fatalities reported.

But the numbers started climbing after that.

In 2021, there were 634 fatalities, which was the most since 2005 when there were 649 traffic deaths.

Even walking across the street has become more dangerous. Last year, there were 121 traffic-related pedestrian deaths statewide — the highest in 20 years.

And as far as serious traffic-related injuries go, there were 2,888 last year, which was the highest since 2006.

The traffic commission report also noted that the number of people speeding and not wearing seat belts also went up in 2021 compared to years prior.

These factors added together make a deadly combination.

The old phrase about being “worried about the other drivers” comes to mind.

Sgt. Darren Wright, public information officer with the Washington State Patrol, said that impaired and distracted drivers are largely responsible for these tragedies.

Repeating the message over and over again about the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol and drugs is still needed, he said. And cell phones are also causing distractions and accidents.

Wright told the Tri-City Herald that if repeating the same safety message over and over again changes the behavior of even one person who then ends up making it home safely, then it’s worth it.

Perhaps as a community we need to ramp up the safe driving messages. After all this time, you’d think people would understand the dangers of taking chances behind the wheel.

But Wright said that young people, especially, have a tendency to think they are invincible.

Tri-City law enforcement officials have seen that with the uptick in illegal street racing in recent months.

This is becoming a growing problem, said local police.

Last summer, Franklin County passed an ordinance that punishes those who organize street racing, which was a wise move.

With social media, it’s become too easy for people to set up a time and place to meet. Often, the dare occurs on a deserted rural road, but law enforcement officers have also seen excessive speeding on city roads with people deciding to race in the moment.

Streets with numerous stop lights like George Washington Way in Richland shouldn’t be considered a death trap. And yet last month the main thoroughfare was the site of two deadly crashes that claimed the lives of four young people.

On Feb. 10, Ernesto Moreno, 26, of Walla Walla, died when the car he was riding in crossed the center line near George Washington Way and Comstock Street and hit a pickup. Richland police have not said what caused that crash.

Then on Feb. 27, Jennifer Duong, 19, of Richland, slammed her Accura into a traffic signal at George Washington Way and Jadwin Avenue, sheared the car and killed the three friends riding with her. Two of the passengers were cousins.

Duong is the lone survivor and has pleaded not guilty to three counts of vehicular homicide. Her trial is scheduled in a couple months.

These are just a couple stories of traffic deaths so far this year. Sadly, there are too many more.

So buckle up, don’t drink and drive, put the cell phone away before you start the car and don’t speed.

And focus when you’re behind the wheel.

The Tri-Cities has seen too many traffic fatalities already this year. We need to turn this grim trend around.