Spokane and Skagit counties are about to get a little more techie on the roads. To curb the high-risk behavior that comes with heavy-footed driving, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), in a collaborative effort with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and the Washington State Patrol, has rolled out a pilot program targeting speed demons. Commencing tomorrow, highway speed cameras will go live at chosen spots along I-90 and I-5, snapping shots of license plates belonging to cars zipping too fast, but don't fret just yet, speedsters. These cameras come bearing only warning notices, not fines.
The pilot has a noble vision: transforming driver habits on the tarmac to prevent those mishaps that can cost us our lives or limbs. It's a pressing issue given the grim tally of 810 total roadway deaths in the state in 2023, without even counting the local crashes. The campaign is strategically aimed at two specific stretches notorious for their fatality and injury collision numbers, with eastbound I-90 near Liberty Lake in Spokane County and the southbound lane of Interstate 5, nestled between Cook and Bow Hill roads in Skagit County, playing host to the speed cameras for this experiment.
The program's specifics are straightforward and backed by a cool mil from the state Legislature. Drivers zipping by too fast will be caught on camera with no penalties, just a courtesy heads-up about their speedball tendencies. A campaign focused on the safety and well-being of travelers rather than the punitive sting of a ticket drives home the message that this is about more than just revenue—it's about lives. The public is encouraged to weigh in with their two cents at the Highway Speed Cameras online open house through June 30, after which the Washington State Department of Transportation will chew over the data and feedback before reporting back to the Legislature.
