Drunk and high drivers are one of the biggest dangers on our roads.
In 2023, 809 people were killed in traffic crashes in Washington — the most in more than 30 years, and about 50% more than in 2019. The number dipped to 731 last year, and early data shows about 450 deaths through the end of September. That’s progress, but still far too many lives lost.
For decades, about half of all deadly crashes in our state have involved an impaired driver. Alcohol is still the leading factor, but more people are now mixing alcohol with other drugs like cannabis. That combination is deadly, making enforcement even harder.
Some lawmakers want to lower the legal blood-alcohol limit from .08% to .05%. I understand the frustration — we all want safer roads — but that won’t solve the problem. We need to fix the parts of the system that are already failing.
Let’s start with the state toxicology lab.
The Washington State Patrol’s lab has a backlog of about 17,000 cases. It can take a year to process alcohol tests and nearly two years for cases involving multiple drugs. Those long delays cause DUI cases to be thrown out because they violate speedy trial requirements. That means there are no consequences for that impaired driver who will end up right back on the road, with potentially deadly consequences.
That’s not justice, and it’s not keeping people safe.
This year, my colleagues and I secured $3 million in onetime funding to help reduce the backlog. That’s a start, but we need a long-term fix. The lab needs more trained staff, steady funding and the flexibility to work with outside labs when needed.
We also have a serious compliance issue with ignition interlock requirements. These devices stop repeat offenders from driving drunk again — in theory. In reality, only about one in four offenders who are ordered to install one actually do it. Too many people can ignore the law.
The Legislature funded local law enforcement and probation officers to conduct compliance checks, which should help. Enforcement needs to be consistent.
Here’s another key point: From 2015 to 2024, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission found that nearly 1,300 traffic deaths involved drivers with a blood alcohol content above the current legal limit of .08%. By comparison, just over 120 fatalities involved drivers in the .05% to .079% range. Every life lost is a tragedy. But if the goal is to save the most lives, Washington should focus on enforcing the laws we already have — because the most serious crashes are caused by drivers who are far over the existing limit, not those hovering just below it. Lowering the limit to .05%, as some have suggested, risks diverting attention and resources away from the worst offenders and undermining efforts to hold truly dangerous drivers accountable.
We know what works: enforcement and accountability. When police had more tools to pursue suspects and DUI patrols increased, traffic deaths went down. That’s what saved lives.
Lowering the legal limit is not a strong response because it doesn’t fix what’s broken. Until we address the backlog, enforce ignition interlock laws and make sure law enforcement has the resources they need, impaired drivers will get away with ruining other people’s lives.
Every time a DUI case is dropped because of delays or lack of follow-up, society suffers.
Let’s focus on better solutions — fixing the system, enforcing the law, and holding offenders accountable. That’s how we make our roads safer for everyone.
