OLYMPIA, Wash. — The number of people killed on Washington roads and highways continues to increase and could motivate lawmakers to seek legislative solutions.
According to preliminary figures released by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, 800 people died in traffic crashes in 2023, up from 742 in 2022.
If the state confirms 800 died in 2023, that would be the highest figure since 1990.
Governor Jay Inslee said the numbers should inspire legislators to pass laws like expanding the use of speed detection cameras and lowering the state’s blood alcohol content threshold for determining when a driver is impaired from .08 to .05.
”800 people didn't come home from soccer practice or work,” said Inslee, “We have got to have action, rather than passivity. We should not be defeatists when it comes to traffic fatalities.”
Earlier in the week legislators looked a number of gun-related bills, including a law limiting gun purchases to one a month.
Members of the state House of Representatives heard public opinion on the list of gun-related bills Tuesday morning, drawing passionate testimony from people on both sides of the gun-control debate.
House Bill 1902 would require permits for gun buyers and House Bill 2054 limits gun purchases to one per month. Gun dealers would have to follow new state safety and security guidelines under House Bill 2118, gun owners would have to report lost or stolen firearms within 24 hours under House Bill 1903, and the Washington State Patrol would be required to destroy any guns seized or forfeited under House Bill 2021.
A number of people impacted by gun violence testified in favor of the new restrictions.
Lawmakers also heard public testimony on a bill to "ditch the switch" and permanently move the state to standard time.
In a new effort to side-step the federal approval process, 13 Washington senators are co-sponsoring a bill to opt into permanent Pacific Standard Time, which the state could do without the go-ahead from Congress.
The bill, authored by Sen. Mike Padden (R-Spokane Valley), cites research showing negative impacts on public health increase each time the state moves forward or falls back by an hour. The switch also "increases traffic accidents and crime, disrupts agriculture scheduling and hinders economic growth," according to the bill text.