Tualatin Traffic Enforcement Blitz Begins Monday the 11th

Tualatin Police announce another safety enforcement blitz starts next week, to focus on the use of seat belts and on speeding violations. From the 11th through the 24th, traffic patrol efforts will aim at increasing the use of seat belts and violating speed laws.

Tualatin Police will join with police agencies nationwide to encourage the use of safety belts and speed enforcement with the goal of educating the public and saving lives. These efforts are funded by the State of Oregon's Three Flags Campaign and are a part of the National Click it or Ticket & Buckle Up America programs.

Since October of 1993, the Three Flags Campaign has sought to reduce the number of motor vehicle related deaths and injuries by increasing public awareness of laws regarding safety belt use and other traffic issues including DUII and speed.

During the 2005 grant year, 25,104 enforcement contacts were made for safety belt and child restraint violations throughout the state using $757,776 of federal highway traffic safety funding. To put this expenditure into perspective, consider that safety belts are 45% to 65% effective in preventing fatalities/injuries and that the combined social costs of one traffic death are estimated to be $1,090,000 (National Safety Council, 2002.)

In addition, statewide enforcement contacts made during safety belt overtime for other violations are tallied as follows:

10,958 speed
465 DUII
2,270 suspensions
460 felonies, and
23,718 other violations.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and disability for all Americans age 1 through 34 years old, according to the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For more information on the programs, visit nhtsa.gov, www.odot.state.or.us/transafety or www.actsoregon.org.