Washington law enforcement officers will join the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, which is aimed at encouraging everyone to get a safe ride, especially if alcohol, medicine, or other drug use might be causing impairment.

“As we kick off the Summer Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, we want drivers to be as aware of the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs as they are of the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol,” said Washington Traffic Safety Commission Director Darrin Grondel in a statement.

Extra patrols started running Aug. 19 and will be out until Sept. 5. The Federal Way Police Department will participate in the program along with the Washington State Patrol and police in Auburn, Bellevue, Covington, Enumclaw, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Redmond, Renton, Seattle, Tukwila and others. The campaign is coordinated through the King County Target Zero Task Force.

Approximately one-third of drivers in Washington were drug-positive, according to a new study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The same study showed that 5 percent of Washington drivers were alcohol-positive, with 1 percent exceeding the legal limit of .08 BAC.

“This shines the light on some good news,” Grondel said. “It is the norm in Washington to drive sober.”

The NHTSA study mirrors the state’s deadly crash data. In 2015, there were 251 impaired drivers involved in deadly crashes. Of these drivers, 20 percent tested positive for alcohol greater than .08 BAC only and another 20 percent tested positive for a single drug. About 60 percent of these drivers tested positive for multiple drugs or drugs mixed with alcohol.

“When someone combines impairing substances, such as consuming marijuana and drinking alcohol, they may experience a greater level of impairment than they expected,” Grondel said. “This data shows that combining alcohol and drugs, or one drug with another drug, can be a very deadly mix for drivers.

“The ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign is designed to encourage all of our citizens to help us achieve our goal of zero traffic deaths. Before you drive, make sure your mind is alert and ready for the important task of driving.” Grondel said. “Don’t risk getting arrested for a DUI or causing a life-changing tragedy. Designate a sober, drug-free driver, catch a ride share, or walk with a buddy.”

For more information on Target Zero, visit www.targetzero.com.