KENT, Wash. — With Thanksgiving marking the start of a month-long holiday season, the Kent Police Department is warning residents about a sharp annual rise in impaired driving and urging the community to plan ahead before drinking.
In a message shared this week, police said DUIs historically spike during the holidays, leading to preventable crashes and tragic losses for families. Officers emphasized that increased social events, football games, Black Friday excitement, and holiday parties can make it easy for people to lose track of how much they’ve been drinking.
Kent Police encouraged residents to designate a sober driver, plan sleeping arrangements, and consider rideshare options rather than assuming they can “wing it.” They reminded drivers that impaired driving can result in severe consequences and that officers will enforce DUI laws, including transporting offenders to jail if caught.
The department urged families to discuss safety with young drivers before the weekend and stressed that everyone is important to someone: “Be an adult and act like it,” the message read.
Partnering with the King County Target Zero Coalition, Kent Police reinforced the statewide goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and keeping holiday celebrations safe.