TheWiseDrive is hosted by Doug Dahl, a Target Zero Manager for the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and a self-confessed traffic safety nerd. Doug’s passion for traffic safety began during his previous career as a deputy for the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, and his fascination with driving began much earlier; at age five he dreamed of becoming a race car driver as he slept in pajamas covered with Indy cars. He’s been to racing school, but he spends most of his recreational time on a bicycle.
What is Target Zero? I’m glad you asked. Target Zero is Washington’s plan to eliminate fatality and serious injury crashes. Ambitious? Yes. Worth pursuing? Definitely. Maybe some people who are reading this are thinking, “But that’s unrealistic. The state should set a more reasonable goal, like reducing fatal crashes by 30%.” If that’s you, think about your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors. How many of them are we okay with being killed or seriously injured in a crash? When we think about it that way, our goal has to be zero.
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