WSU students return to school

The Washington State Patrol (WSP) would like to remind Washington State University (WSU) students and families returning from summer break to use caution and avoid distractions while driving.

WSP will be allocating additional resources along I-90, SR 17, SR 26, SR 260, US 195, and US 395, leading toward WSU, targeting speed, DUI, unsafe passing, distracted and aggressive drivers. Troopers will take appropriate enforcement to ensure students return to school safely.

Speeding and distracted driving are the leading causes of fatality collisions across the nation. Talking on your cellphone or texting while driving is comparable to driving under the influence and greatly increases the likelihood of a collision.

A ticket for talking on your cellphone or texting while driving is $136 for the first offense and $234 for the second offense in five years. These violations are now reported to insurance companies.

Family and friends are encouraged to talk with their student drivers about the dangers of distracted driving. Speed related collisions can be avoided by simply slowing down. Leave ample time to avoid being rushed when returning to school.

Seatbelts truly save lives. In 2015, 48 percent of those killed in a collision were unrestrained. Putting on a seatbelt only takes a few seconds, but can be the difference between life and death.

Aggressive driving is “the commission of two or more moving violations that are likely to endanger other persons or property, or any single intentional violation that requires a defensive reaction of another driver.”

Motorists should dial 911 to report an aggressively-driven vehicle with a description, location and direction of travel.

Those traveling through the area are reminded there will be an increase in WSU related traffic the weekend of Aug. 18-20. WSP asks drivers to be patient and allow extra travel time.