The Pullman and Washington State University Police Departments, the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Patrol will commit extra patrol hours to make the roadways safer for everyone.

The extra hours commitment is part of Washington’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan to reduce traffic fatalities to zero by the year 2030.

Cmdr. Chris Tennant of the Pullman Police Department said the department was allotted $2,000 for the DUI campaign, which is about half as much as the other local agencies will receive. The amount will be spent on overtime to pay for the patrols. 

Tennant said the Pullman Police Department is receiving less money because they did not participate in the campaign last year.

He said Pullman police will be working with the other agencies to create a schedule for when and where the "high visibility enforcement" will take place. 

Between 2006 and 2010, the five-year total for deaths involving a drunk driver was 1,191.

In 2010, Sheena Blair was one of 188 of the people that fell victim to a drunk driver related crash.

“Don’t let our story become your story,” Sheena's father Frank Blair said in a press release. “Call a cab. Call a friend. Plan ahead. No matter who you are, someone loves you.”

The Blairs have made it their mission to reduce the accidents caused by drunken drivers. Their daughter, Sheena, was killed when an SUV drove into her lane and hit her head-on. The driver's blood alcohol level was almost three times the legal limit.

While their grief is massive, Carol and Frank are actively working to prevent drunk driving by leading many efforts to honor the spirit of Sheena and all other victims of drunk driving crashes.

The Spokane County Target Zero Task Force organizes and supports this enforcement effort.

For additional information about the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, visit www.wtsc.wa.gov.