DCSO boosting seat belt, DUII patrols
The Oregon Safety Belt Overtime Campaign is a statewide selective traffic enforcement program that seeks to reduce the number of motor vehicle-related deaths and injuries by increasing public awareness of laws regarding the three most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crash injuries: safety restraint use, speed, and impaired drivers.
A statewide observation survey in June 2013 found 98% of Oregon’s motoring public using safety belts, making Oregon one of the two highest belt use states in our country. Since the 1990 passage of Oregon’s adult belt law, observed belt use among the motoring public has doubled from 50% to 98% while crash fatality and injury rates have both dramatically decreased by 58% and 24% respectively.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is increasing traffic patrols during daylight hours for the purpose of enforcing seat belt and child restraint violations during this two-week campaign, Feb. 10-23.
Child safety seats reduce crash fatality risk for infants under 1 year old by 71% and for toddlers aged 1 to 4 by 54%. Safety belts reduce fatality risk by 45 to 60 percent.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is also increasing traffic patrols during night time hours to focus on DUII enforcement. The campaign will run from Feb1 through Feb 3, 2014 focusing on the Super Bowl weekend.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office along with the Oregon Department of Transportation encourages all drivers and passengers to make a conscious effort to use their seat belt at all times while traveling in a motor vehicle regardless of the distance traveled. Furthermore, we encourage all drivers to drink responsibly. If drivers intend to drink, please plan ahead and use a designated driver or public transportation such as a taxi or the local bus system.
