OSP: No New Year’s traffic deaths in Oregon

Preliminary information indicates there were no traffic fatalities in Oregon during the 30-hour New Year’s holiday reporting period, from 6 p.m. New Year’s Eve through 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 1, Oregon State Police said Thursday.

If this statistic holds true, this will be the third time since 1970 for no traffic fatalities during this major holiday period.

According to Oregon Department of Transportation Fatality Analysis Reporting System, since 1970 there were no fatalities reported in 2003 (30 hour period) and 2010 (78 hour period).

Reporting periods may be different lengths depending on what day of the week the holiday falls on. The previous two New Year’s holiday reporting periods recorded a total of 22 traffic fatalities (12 deaths in 2013 and 10 deaths in 2012). Last year’s reported fatalities included 9 deaths from the December fatal tour bus crash east of Pendleton.

OSP and local law enforcement agencies participated in a national enforcement effort since December 13th to discourage impaired driving and prevent alcohol-related incidents along our roads. During the 30-hour reporting period for the New Year’s holiday, OSP troopers reported 29 DUII arrests, of which 22 were on January 1st. OSP offices reporting two or more DUII arrests were:

* Springfield Area Command office – 6 DUII arrests
* Portland Area Command office – 4 DUII arrests
* Albany Area Command office – 3 DUII arrests
* Klamath Falls Area Command office – 3 DUII arrests
* Coos Bay Area Command office – 2 DUII arrests
* Grants Pass Work Site office – 2 DUII arrests
* Pendleton Area Command office – 2 DUII arrests

Last year, OSP troopers during a 102-hour reporting period recorded 78 DUII arrests, of which 31 occurred on January 1, 2013.

In addition to enhanced DUII enforcement efforts, OSP troopers during traffic stops arrested 13 people on outstanding misdemeanor and felony arrest warrants.