Zero traffic deaths or serious injuries on the road by the year 2030. The state of Washington set that ambitious goal about 15 years.

The initiative is called “Target Zero” and since its inception, traffic deaths and serious injuries have gone down by the hundreds.

“To some extent, when you deal with a service industry, you deal with a lot of numbers; you’re dealing with things for your protection,” said Chris Madill, deputy director for the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. “Behind those numbers are individual stories.”

Target Zero serves as an educational program for safety but also allocates extra funds to police departments in the state to allow for a heightened presence, typically around major holidays.

In 2000, there was a total of 631 traffic-related deaths in the state. By 2009, the numbers dropped to 492.

“In our minds there is nothing acceptable other than zero, we need absolute safety on our roadways. Even one person is too many,” Madill said.

The Pullman Police Department was allowed to choose its own dates for the DUI emphasis patrols, opting to operate this past Mom’s Weekend and Springfest this coming weekend. This is because these weekends bring in more traffic while a vast number of students leave Pullman during major holidays.

During the first emphasis patrol a few weeks ago, a total of six people were arrested for DUI. More than the usual one or two people arrested under these patrols, said Pullman Police Commander Chris Tennant.

During these patrols, officers look out for common driving infractions such as speeding or running red lights.

“DUI is one of those things that is an officer-initiated thing,” Tennant said.

He noted Target Zero has proven to be a useful campaign in the past.

“It’s providing over time money for officers who don’t normally work those hours,” he said.

While traffic-related deaths have been at a steady decline since the early 2000s, Madill believes there is still much more work to be done to ensure Target Zero is fulfilled by 2030.

“We are pleased to say that we’ve made progress but are still not happy with where we are at,” he said.