SPOKANE, Wash — New numbers show 251 people died on Washington highways and freeways last year.
According to the Washington State Patrol (WSP), distracted driving, speeding, and aggressive behaviors are usually to blame.
Greg Riddell with WSP’s District 4, shared that troopers made contact with 40,241 distracted drivers in 2025 – a notable increase from last year.
“That’s a lot of distracted drivers that we’re contacted by the Washington State Patrol and are either ticketed or warned,” Riddell said. “Just that one time can be life changing for you or someone else.”
Riddell pointed out that even a simple text message can cover the distance of two football fields, underscoring the need for defensive driving and constant alertness.
That’s why he’s encouraging everyone to practice defensive driving.
“When you’re defensive driving, you’re trying to prevent things. So that may mean that if you see a car coming, anticipate what they’re going to do and try to adjust to what they’re doing,” Riddell explained.
Speeding is also up in Washington.
More than 300,000 speeders were ticketed or stopped for a warning in 2025.
Riddell says this often goes hand in hand with an increase in aggressive driving.
“Aggressive driving is anger behind the wheel,” Riddell said.
In 2025, WSP also arrested more than 12,000 impaired drivers, but Riddell said DUI statistics are improving because of rideshare options like Uber and Lyft.
To keep families safe on the road, Riddell encourages people to buckle up, be courteous on the road, and extend that courtesy to crews working near highways.
“People’s lives are at stake by you seeing those warning signs and slowing down and moving over,” he urged.
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