[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6380193,"mediaKeyId","2133093-34386d634d9312d7c5cf9207d352b077","parentId",2133093,"title","WSDOT outlines wrong‑way detection, local safety grants and low‑cost fixes to reduce fatal collisions","audioSeconds",1560,"startMs",3175000,"endMs",4735000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2133093-34386d634d9312d7c5cf9207d352b077&start=3175&end=4735","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2133093-34386d634d9312d7c5cf9207d352b077/thumbnail_3175000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6380193/Washington/WSDOT-outlines-wrongway-detection-local-safety-grants-and-lowcost-fixes-to-reduce-fatal-collisions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6380193-8fcfaabdc8e28757dbc59fd2b0371f9c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440164&Signature=ljnaV24WX--akYjqUpBoEPaBzQiYZzD-yPpENKgOxZOszhz2Z5igNri-Hp91XlceF996Zm5yhXndrt1SUyYjq1AmscZGOfwvtx9NmscfmC~RohAp8BvM6TnZlfGipY9vrADdzPjU0l7M5nOfta-EbTIPdDb1afP8XwUITq7W3xXp5CljAEEnA~DxdXR3AoxIn6MsPK3T7r1SqS4~odf4L51FIscgUeHmuCaCy4b6jigW3neBB5zqFbq-ES5fIm2NAPvz8LjVWDmAOrJhrseIJmR0AQANI1kNINKScvOxUIzGfDEvbfuUQycBMz~1qYnA5ymP-EVv4X77QrV4XsDqgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","House Transportation","date","2025-01-20T00:00:00Z","article","Dongho Chang, director of transportation operations at the Washington State Department of Transportation, told the committee on Jan. 20 that wrong‑way driving is a major contributor to high‑severity collisions and that the state has chosen detection and signing upgrades as a short‑term countermeasure.

Scope and data: Chang said wrong‑way crashes account for about 8% of Washington’s traffic deaths and that Washington ties for the nation’s highest rate with Maine; the national average cited in the briefing was about 3.7%. He said between 2019 and 2023 Washington recorded 493 wrong‑way collisions on state highways with 62 resulting in fatalities, and that about 60% of wrong‑way drivers were impaired, with most such crashes occurring at night and on higher‑speed divided highways. The department identified six counties (King, Snohomish, Pierce, Clark, Yakima and Spokane) where nearly 70% of wrong‑way incidents occur.

Detection and response: Chang described technology that detects wrong‑way entries and activates warning flashers and alerts to traffic management centers to shorten response times; the department cited other states’ results showing high self‑correction rates after detection. WSDOT said it selected 10 locations for detection installs, is improving missing or faded signs and pavement markings at numerous sites, and plans to coordinate with traffic centers and law enforcement for alerts.

Local safety programs and low‑cost enhancements: Jay Dry, WSDOT director of local programs, described federally funded Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grants and state programs that support cities and counties. Dry said the state awards roughly $35 million for city projects in odd‑numbered years and a similar county allocation in even years; he emphasized that need exceeds available funding and that applications outpace awards. Dry also summarized the new Reducing Rural Roadway Departure program, a $4 million state local‑share program for smaller projects, a $1 million Video Analytics pilot award list, and a flexible pedestrian and bicycle safety fund that targeted emergent ADA and crosswalk needs.

Examples and outcomes: Chang and Dry gave local examples: raised (raised‑level) crosswalks to slow drivers and improve pedestrian accessibility, leading pedestrian intervals that give walkers a head start at signals, and small operational fixes to roundabouts and lane markings. WSDOT presented a low‑cost enhancement example where rechannelizing a roundabout reduced collisions from 45 per year to about 3 per year, citing an estimated societal savings afterward.

Next steps and delivery: WSDOT said it will continue sign and pavement‑marking upgrades, install detection systems at prioritized wrong‑way locations, deploy low‑cost operational fixes statewide (about 160 projects planned), and publish program reports. The department also noted delays on some pedestrian projects due to budget timing and said construction will proceed as bids are awarded.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Transportation - 1/20/2025 4:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","WSDOT directors told the House Transportation Committee that wrong‑way driving is increasing and described a program of detection equipment, improved signs/pavement markings, local safety grants and low‑cost operational fixes targeted at high‑risk corridors and vulnerable road users.","taxTitle","Transportation, House of Representatives, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20272,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6380196,"WSDOT readies work‑zone speed cameras and a short highway average‑speed pilot",547,2472000,3019000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2133093-34386d634d9312d7c5cf9207d352b077&start=2472&end=3019","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2133093-34386d634d9312d7c5cf9207d352b077/thumbnail_2472000.jpg","/articles/6380196/Washington/WSDOT-readies-workzone-speed-cameras-and-a-short-highway-averagespeed-pilot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6380196-f6258e4e0b1b15d3b48f7b1541099faa/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440164&Signature=QyTtNkdlG2xnVzP7o7LY6vpsvUxkfXMgS5EVWPVEhRNG-nXNGbcaezVZnmq4lY~l-Oe-0Di3zbbA-GMQneTHshQ6V8K9g-fKU3zFc0ZZfisxIjB85HgLnkZy4rcv6BFgHz0Clsu6krux~mvtrY9njU~C6bsjyZC5tULwNnym3AqBfn6O0N6hZtJ3HvLoHepQfaCsUTshMojnLB08ZwDOhOZQ1DlbDgqwuTEDsBHc1sMA52h8GgOF-CM5gW9aFnYR8lQRvKyfpJNDwhMn2YuEINi-s1UamMvAes1znjMchAJ3xaE6H7OhtB5nXaz-KjDxFAE9MlR9aSQqwRhp9Ts8-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tony Langang, program administrator for Intelligent Transportation Systems at the Washington State Department of Transportation, updated the House Transportation Committee on Jan. 20 on two camera programs: a work‑zone speed camera rollout and a short highway average‑speed pilot.

Work‑zone program and statutory basis: Langang said the work‑zone speed camera authority springs from RCW 46.63.200 and subsequent legislative actions that assigned infraction levels and gave the Department of Licensing authority to suspend vehicle registrations for unpaid violations. He told the committee the cameras are intended to reduce dangerous speeds in active work and maintenance zones and that the first field unit will be deployed in Western Washington in February with a phased rollout to reach 6 units by mid‑year and up to 15 units in later years.

Pilot for highway average‑speed enforcement: The department described a limited, data‑gathering pilot authorized by a legislative proviso to test average‑speed technology (two cameras measuring speed across a segment and computing average speed). Langang said the department reduced more than 100 candidate locations to two test segments: one on I‑5 in Skagit County and one on I‑90 in Spokane County near the Idaho border. The pilot will not produce penalties during the test period; selected motorists may receive mailed warning letters and aggregate data will be reported to the Legislature. Langang said the pilot’s window runs through June 30, 2025.

Operational details: Langang said the work‑zone program will treat infractions as nonmoving, processed via mail similar to a speeding citation; legislation in 2024 set the first infraction at $0 and subsequent infractions at $248 and added registration‑suspension authority for unpaid violations. The department said it completed rule‑making hearings and vendors and websites will go live ahead of the planned February start for initial field testing.

Public outreach and privacy: WSDOT said public awareness campaigns and signage will precede enforcement; the pilot will not capture personally identifiable data beyond license‑plate registration checks required for mailing, and the pilot intends to emphasize public education and collection of behavioral data rather than immediate penalty issuance.

Next steps: Department officials indicated the program will begin with one work‑zone camera unit, expand to three units over the ensuing three months and to six by summer, and will publish pilot findings to the Legislature after the data‑collection window closes.","The Washington State Department of Transportation told the House Transportation Committee that work‑zone speed cameras will begin phased field testing in early 2025 under RCW 46.63.200, and that a limited pilot will test average‑speed enforcement on two highway segments and report results to the Legislature.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6380197,"State Patrol cites highest roadway deaths since 1970s, warns of trooper shortfalls and lab backlogs",1172,165000,1337000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2133093-34386d634d9312d7c5cf9207d352b077&start=165&end=1337","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2133093-34386d634d9312d7c5cf9207d352b077/thumbnail_165000.jpg","/articles/6380197/Washington/State-Patrol-cites-highest-roadway-deaths-since-1970s-warns-of-trooper-shortfalls-and-lab-backlogs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6380197-50003df4b99003b338871ef6c0ceffad/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440164&Signature=jqY9v1A4xol1-IoQE2bUXKOECfci2g9DWbYnA7iV9QOGFgtKbCVnxZB7U7pFyDeFWz2QIxdwTL6605XhGTnORv8DJhVScDGnfeb2NC2WI~m7wu15sutxs9VxcVR9PVO4hftnnbD0xy5U00T2~jfDhCqvN~SlMY1I3KOagOwE7LNYEVerVsr7zF6UQ2RDwEc886~QmSTZ9BD53A5pm-lbOozI3juNST7Co7JPTU142-XShoFUQk7C8u4KiTT6wfK5t1bxI1B59GtgQNc9D~ic53zz0osB0sPVLOV3~mcv9O~bwIhiFciqzcD9NoPke3xMJRUvhW~TTGxNQAOMmej3TA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Captain Dion Glover, Washington State Patrol, told the House Transportation Committee on Jan. 20 that the patrol recorded its highest number of roadway fatalities since the 1970s and described staffing and forensic-lab constraints the agency says complicate traffic-safety work.

The patrol’s presentation, led by Captain Dion Glover and accompanied by Chief John Battiste, focused on rising aggressive driving, impaired-driving involvement in fatal crashes, and steps the patrol is taking on hiring and training. \"In 2023, we we hit the highest number of fatalities we've ever had since the mid 19 seventies with over 810 folks died on our roadways,\" Captain Glover said during the presentation.

Why it matters: Washington’s highway deaths have policy and prosecutorial consequences, committee members were told. Patrol leaders said long forensic turnaround times for blood testing can conflict with speedy‑trial deadlines and that staffing gaps reduce the patrol’s ability to both respond to crashes and sustain high‑visibility enforcement.

Key facts presented

- Fatalities and collisions: Captain Glover said the State Patrol investigated 271 fatal collisions (agency‑investigated collisions only) and that over 50% of those collisions involved some form of impairment. He said the agency processed about 35,000 collisions last year, from minor to fatal.

- Impaired driving enforcement and training: The patrol reported removing about 11,000 impaired drivers from Washington roadways last year and described a layered training approach: ARIDE (advanced roadside impairment detection) classes, a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) program with roughly 130 certified evaluators in the state, and expanded DRE class schedules.

- Staffing and retention: The patrol said it is running multiple recruit classes: 58 individuals were in training at the time of the briefing, 34 had been hired for the next class and another lateral class was planned. The agency reported averaging five retirements per month (about 60 a year), an average trooper tenure of about 10 years, and roughly 253 commissioned positions currently vacant. The patrol said about 85 troopers were eligible to retire immediately.

- Forensic backlog and turnaround: Representative Griffey and others pressed the patrol on turnaround time for blood/toxicology testing. Chief John Battiste and staff said staffing at toxicology labs is the primary constraint, that new hires require lengthy certification (about 18 months), and that the patrol is studying other states’ throughput models. Battiste said the goal is to reduce blood-result turnaround toward a 60‑day window to better align with speedy‑trial expectations.

- Enforcement tools and outreach: The patrol highlighted high‑visibility enforcement emphasis campaigns, use of aviation (aircraft with FLIR) for detecting high‑speed drivers and assists to local agencies, a commercial vehicle enforcement bureau that performed more than 55,000 commercial inspections last year, school‑bus inspections, and expanded community engagement through an Office of Culture and Engagement.

Quotes and source limits: Direct quotes and attributions in this article are restricted to the committee record speakers listed in the transcript: Captain Dion Glover, Chief John Battiste, and Kimberly Mathis (staff). Committee members asked questions but the article does not attribute statements to any speaker except where the transcript identified them.

Outlook: Patrol leaders asked for continued legislative support for recruitment incentives, retention bonuses and resources for labs and training. They said hiring and retention improvements already funded by the Legislature have demonstrable effects on recruitment and retention, but the agency remains substantially understaffed relative to funded positions.","Washington State Patrol officials told the House Transportation Committee on Jan. 20 that 2023 saw a record number of traffic fatalities, that trooper staffing remains well below funded levels, and that toxicology and blood-sample turnaround times remain a critical bottleneck for prosecutions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

WSDOT outlines wrong‑way detection, local safety grants and low‑cost fixes to reduce fatal collisions

WSDOT readies work‑zone speed cameras and a short highway average‑speed pilot

State Patrol cites highest roadway deaths since 1970s, warns of trooper shortfalls and lab backlogs