Florence Police Department Enhanced Traffic Enforcement Operations

FLORENCE POLICE DEPARTMENT SEATBELT “BLITZ” AUGUST 21ST – SEPTEMBER 3RD

FLORENCE, OR – Oregon State Police, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florence Police Department will be working to increase proper safety belt and child car seat use during a statewide traffic enforcement “blitz” from August 21st through September 3rd. Officers will also be on the alert for persons exceeding the posted speed limit and violating the “hands-free” cellphone law. This enhanced enforcement is paid from dedicated funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Oregon Department of Transportation crash data for 2015 shows that lack of safety belt or child restraint use was a factor in 35% or 79 of the total 289 motor vehicle occupant fatalities. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading nationwide cause of death for children ages one through twelve years old.

A new Oregon law for children under two years old requires they use a child seat with harness in a rear facing position unless the child turned one year of age prior to May 26, 2017. A child over age two or who turned one year of age prior to May 26, 2017, must continue to ride in a car seat with harness or in a booster until they reach age 8 or 4’ 9” in height and the adult belt fits them correctly.

The new law, which extends the rear facing requirement from age one to age two, will better protect the child’s head, neck, and spine from potential crash injuries. Rear-facing seats spread crash forces evenly across the seat and child’s body, while also limiting forward or sideways motion of the head.

For help selecting or installing child car seats, consult the seat manufacturer’s instructions, your vehicle owner’s manual, or visit a local child seat fitting station listed at: www.nhtsa.gov/apps/cps/index.htm or at oregonimpact.org/car-seat-resources.

PEDESTRIAN ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS

FLORENCE, OR – On August 23, 2017, the Florence Police Department will conduct a Pedestrian Enforcement Operation at Highway 101 and 15th Street from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. It will be canceled if it is raining.

Under Oregon law, a crosswalk exists at any public street intersection, whether marked with paint or unmarked. Crosswalks also exist between intersections (mid-block) where indicated with white paint.

At a traffic signal, drivers must:

• Stop and remain stopped for pedestrians until they have cleared the lane in which the driver is traveling and the adjacent lane.
• Stop and remain stopped for pedestrians until they have cleared the lane into which the driver’s vehicle is turning and at least 6 feet of the adjacent lane.
• At any other crosswalk – those without a signal – drivers must:
• Stop and remain stopped for pedestrians until they have cleared the lane in which the driver is traveling and the adjacent lane.
• Stop and remain stopped for pedestrians until they have cleared the lane into which the driver’s vehicle is turning and the adjacent lane.
• Stop and remain stopped for students crossing (or about to cross) a street under the direction of a crossing guard.
• Stop and remain stopped for a blind or blind and deaf pedestrian using a cane or a guide dog, until the pedestrian is completely across the roadway.

A stopped car may be a clue that a pedestrian is crossing. Don't pass until you know what is going on. In fact, it is not only unsafe but also illegal in Oregon to pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk for a pedestrian.

Giving pedestrians more space and slowing down in their presence can save lives. Pedestrians struck by vehicles at 40 mph have an 85 percent chance of dying in the collision. That death rate drops to 15 percent at 20 mph.