‘100 Safe Days of Summer’ kicks off safe driving awareness as police crackdown on DUIs

As the nation enters one of the most dangerous times of the year for driving, law enforcement agencies in King County announced Thursday an increase in patrols on roadways that will be on the lookout for drivers under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

The increase runs from June 10-11 and will kick off the “100 Safe Days of Summer” campaign that will deploy patrols throughout the summer as the days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the deadliest for crashes related to teen drivers, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).

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With the campaign underway, some parents have downloaded mobile apps, such as Mama Bear, that allow them to track their children’s driving habits and whereabouts.

“If I’m willing to give an insurance company this information to get me a lower rate, which many insurance companies offer if I’m okay with that, how can I not be okay with having the same feature and my kids safer,” Spike O’Neil said to Jack Stine on-air on KIRO Newsradio.

“And for her to know that I’m monitoring what she’s doing? Just the fact that I’m watching makes her operate more safely,” O’Neil continued.

Features across mobile apps that track driving habits vary, with some, such as Automatic, offering tips to improve driving, and others, like Life360, that send detailed weekly reports to parents regarding their teen’s habits.

Stine noted his support for independence and autonomy but said if he had children he would install a driver monitoring app on their cell phone.

“If I had kids, this app is going on their phone, and I’m reviewing it. It just seems like a convenience, why would I want to pass that up?” Stine asked.

“It’s not that I don’t trust my kid, but my biggest concern is like, let’s just say that my child gets into a car accident or something like that, and they are outside of cell service or something like that … I want to know that information,” Stine continued.

He added that he believes the apps are acceptable for parents but not for the government.

With the announcement of more law enforcement agencies patrolling vehicles on Washington’s roadways, parents are encouraged to discuss safe driving with their teens.

The campaign, in collaboration with Target Zero Task Forces across the state, focuses on giving parents positive actions to educate and encourage safe behavior from their kids, the release said.

“It’s so important to talk with teen drivers early and often about the dangers of risky driving situations like impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding and nighttime driving,” Sara Wood, Target Zero manager, said in a press release.

“By creating a game plan with your teen to stay safe during these dangerous summer months, you can also help them become a safer driver year-round.”

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