Police will be out in force between Aug. 16 and Sept. 2, looking for drivers under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs during the annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. The effort is being joined by the Bellevue and Newcastle police departments and the Washington State Patrol, among other jurisdictions.

DUI is the leading cause of death on Washington roadways, accountable for nearly half of the 439 fatalities during 2012. And, law enforcement officials add, even though Washington legalized marijuana for adults 21 and older, it is still illegal and dangerous to drive under the influence of marijuana.

Studies have found that marijuana-positive drivers are twice as likely to crash as other drivers. Marijuana use can slow reaction time, decrease the ability of a driver to maintain lane position, and diminish the ability to pay attention to the tasks of driving. It also interferes with a driver’s ability to perform divided-attention tasks, such as steering and maintaining vehicle speed at the same time.

Officers can tell when a driver is experiencing other effects of marijuana influence such as relaxed inhibitions, altered perception of time and distance, disorientation, incomplete thought processes and increased pulse.

The goal of the extra patrols is to keep people safe during the vacation travel time. If someone sees a DUI, they are asked to call 911.

Last year in King County, during the same time period, officers on routine and extra patrols arrested 374 people for DUI. For all of 2012, in King County, 8,578 people were charged with DUI.