'Presence is the number one thing out there': WSP increasing patrols as students return to campus

COLFAX, Wash. -- Summer is winding down and it's almost time for students to head back to the classroom. WSU students are already packing their cars and making their way back to Pullman. With roads getting busier, Washington State Patrol Officers are increasing their presence to ensure that everyone makes it back to campus safely. “I think presence is the number one thing out there,” said Trooper Caleb Hudson. From now until August 20th, WSP troopers will conduct traffic safety emphasis controls, meaning you might see more troopers on the road. “We're just trying to show a little bit more presence out there and help keep people driving a little slower,” Hudson said. According to WSP, speeding is one of the leading causes of accidents state-wide. In District 4, near WSU, fatal crashes have nearly doubled compared to last year, up 93 percent. “You obviously can't slow everybody down. But if you can get the majority of the traffic slowed down, your chance of a collision is greatly reduced,” Hudson said. If you see a trooper out, or if you get pulled over, Hudson says they want you to know they aren't just trying to give out tickets. “Not everybody needs to get a ticket, but it is good to pull over speed and those other violations and just talk to people and remind them that we are out here and that, you know, we need to slow down a little bit,” Hudson said. It's not just speeding they're looking out for either. “Distracted driving is a big one,” Hudson said. Occasionally you'll see cell phones, whether it's texting, calling mom or dad or whoever, along with the seatbelt violation. It's a big one for us,” Hudson said. Adding that during his time as a trooper, almost every fatal crash has been seatbelt related. “So we've really stressed trying to encourage people to wear those,” Hudson said. While being pulled over and even getting a ticket is no fun, WSP says their main goal is to make sure everyone makes it back to campus safely. ►Subscribe:    / 4newsnow   ►Website: http://www.kxly.com ►Twitter:   / kxly4news   ►Facebook:   / kxly4news