Between Aug. 12 and Sept. 6 extra DUI patrols will travel King County roadways in search of impaired drivers.

“Drive Hammered, Get Nailed” will be the largest summer DUI enforcement campaign ever with 178 agencies participating throughout the state.

The City of Kirkland is among the local cities participating.

During the summer months – July through September – Washington experiences the greatest number of alcohol or drug impaired driver-involved traffic deaths (31 percent of the total impaired driving deaths occurred during the summer months between 2000 and 2009). And Labor Day weekend is one of Washington’s deadliest holidays, averaging more than seven deaths each year.

Impaired driving is the leading factor in traffic deaths in Washington. Last year, impaired drivers contributed to the deaths of more than half of the 491 people who died on Washington’s roadways. The 264 impaired driver-involved deaths in 2009 represent a decrease of nine fatalities compared to the previous five-year average of 273.

For more information, visit www.wtsc.wa.gov