SENATE RESOLUTION

8608

BySenator Liias

WHEREAS, The National Road Safety Foundation recognizes January 22nd through January 28th as National Passenger Safety Week; and

WHEREAS, Everyone has an important role to play in increasing road safety; and

WHEREAS, Passenger car occupant deaths accounted for 35 percent of all traffic fatalities nationwide in 2020; and

WHEREAS, Traffic deaths increased 7 percent in 2020 and 10 percent in 2021, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) preliminary estimates; and

WHEREAS, Passenger car occupant deaths rose 9 percent in 2021; and

WHEREAS, These historic increases in traffic deaths occurred even though there was a 13 percent decrease in the miles that vehicles traveled; and

WHEREAS, NHTSA's data shows that the main behaviors behind these increases were speeding, impaired driving, and failure to wear seat belts; and

WHEREAS, Whether a driver is impaired by alcohol or drugs, is speeding, is driving too aggressively, is driving distracted, or is unable to stay awake behind the wheel, bad driving choices put passengers at risk of serious injury or death; and

WHEREAS, Many of those lives might have been saved had a passenger in the car insisted that the driver slow down, stop texting, or not get behind the wheel in the first place; and

WHEREAS, Passengers, especially teens and young adults, need education and encouragement to empower them to save lives by stopping unsafe driving practices as they happen; and

WHEREAS, Parents also need education and encouragement to teach their children about the importance of speaking up or not getting in a car with someone who is drunk, drugged, or distracted;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate recognize National Passenger Safety Week, January 22-28, 2023, and encourage passengers in motor vehicles to educate themselves and advocate for their own safety and the safety of others during this week and throughout the year.

I, Sarah Bannister, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8608,

adopted by the Senate

January 24, 2023

SARAH BANNISTER

Secretary of the Senate