The story behind the highway memorial to Patrick Byrd on today’s front page is also a reminder of the many lives lost to car accidents on Vashon since Byrd’s death in 1999. Some are marked by memorials, and some are not, but every fatal car wreck has sent shock waves through the island. In the last year alone, three people have been killed in collisions on Vashon Highway, the island’s most travelled route. Two of the accidents were on the busy stretch of highway between Vashon town and the north end.

We’ve mourned the victims of these accidents, many of whom have been well known in our small community. But we’ve also been left to wonder how these wrecks could have happened, questioning the safety of roads we travel so often. Official causes have not been released for two of the recent crashes, one of which was a single-car accident. The third accident, last spring, occurred when a driver who was apparently not paying close attention hit and killed a motorcyclist. Other accidents, such as the one that killed Byrd, have been the result of drunk driving.

Though the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol are well known, it is still a top cause of fatal crashes in King County and Washington state overall. Between 2008 to 2012, 200 people died in impaired driver-involved crashes in the county, accounting for 47 percent of all traffic fatalities during that time period. Unfortunately, driving under the influence is still a common occurrence, something event smart people have been known to do in a moment of bad decision making. Driving while talking on the phone or texting is also far too common and can have deadly consequences.

While roadside memorials are both a way to honor lives lost and remind others about dangers on the road, traffic officials have reservations about them. Flashy or elaborate memorials can be a distraction, have been proven to cause drivers to slow down and could lead to other accidents. Officials encourage memorials that use natural plantings and have low signs or plaques. The state and King County now both offer official road signs that bear messages such as “Please don’t drink and drive” and “Please watch for pedestrians” along with the names of victims.

However we chose to honor victims, we should keep in mind that many of the accidents that have rattled our island were preventable. A reminder about the risks behind the wheel, it seems, is never a bad idea.