Washington Drivers Challenged to Drive Nice for a Day

Governor Proclaims May 22, 2008 Drive Nice Day Throughout State

SEATTLE, May 21 -- Governor Gregoire has pronounced May 22 Drive Nice Day throughout Washington state, challenging drivers to make a conscious effort to drive nice and help make it a collision-free day in the state.

Drive Nice Day, founded by SWERVE Driver Training, kicked off in 2007 to encourage drivers to drive with greater responsibility and more consideration for those with whom they share the road. In just one year, this grassroots initiative has grown to a statewide effort sponsored by SWERVE Driver Training, AAA Washington, Allstate Insurance and the Washington Department of Licensing with the support of the Washington Traffic and Safety Commission and the Washington State Patrol.

"We wanted to find a way to strengthen our communities by inspiring individuals to be better drivers," said Fred Wright, CEO of SWERVE Driver Training. "Approximately 600 Washingtonians die in traffic crashes each year and most are preventable."

Drive Nice Day is scheduled each year on the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend, known to be one of the most dangerous and fatal weekends of the year on the road due to car collisions.

"The only way to help people understand how to be collision-free for life is to change the patterns that currently exist on our roadways," said Wright. "The spirit of Drive Nice Day is all about inspiring as many people as possible to focus on making May 22nd a collision-free day in Washington state."

Car crashes are the number one killer of Washingtonians under the age of 45 and rank third -- trailing only cancer and heart disease -- in shortening life spans before the age of 65. The Washington State Department of Transportation places the comprehensive cost of car crashes at more than $5.6 billion per year.

"We can't ignore the obvious connections between driving nice and driving safe," said Angie Ward, spokesperson for the Washington Traffic & Safety Commission.

Dave Overstreet, Director of Public Affairs for AAA Washington, said they sponsored Drive Nice Day because "motorists who respect other motorists, cyclists and pedestrians create an environment that enhances traffic safety and emphasizes taking responsibility for our actions as drivers."

This year's Drive Nice Day includes the City Challenge. The cities of Seattle and Tacoma will compete to see which has the nicest drivers. Observation teams made up of expert SWERVE driving instructors, Washington State Patrol officers, student drivers and volunteers will be at high-traffic locations in both cities during morning rush hour scoring drivers on their nice and not-so-nice driving. Allstate Insurance will award $10,000 to the winning city to go toward teen drivers' education.

"Each year, we make a list of the safest drivers in the United States based on company claim data. Unfortunately, Seattle and Tacoma vied for positions near the bottom of our list in 2007," said Lyndsay Pease, an Allstate spokesperson. "We hope that events like Drive Nice Day and the Drive Nice City Challenge will elevate the awareness of safe driving behaviors throughout the state."

Washington residents can participate in Drive Nice Day by making a conscious effort to drive nice on May 22 and by picking up a Drive Nice Day window cling from any AAA Washington office, Washington Department of Licensing office or participating Allstate Insurance offices. Residents can visit http://www.driveniceday.org/ to find a location closest to them.

"Promoting highway safety is a major part of our mission and we encourage drivers to be courteous to each other and put safety first everyday," said Tana Cochran, Manager of Driver Training Programs at the Washington Department of Licensing.