Officers from the Coos Bay Police Department will join law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon in a Safety Belt Enforcement Campaign, from May 16th to 29th. This is the second of three scheduled safety belt and traffic safety campaigns for 2016. The focus of the program is to increase public awareness of the seatbelt laws with the goal of reducing traffic injuries and deaths. Members from the Coos Bay Police Department will take to the road during this campaign, to ensure drivers are wearing safety belts during the day and night, and to look for minors in open pickup beds, but will also be watching for drivers who are speeding, texting, and driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs. Oregon law requires that there be “proper use” of the entire seatbelt system; lap belt placed low across the hips and a shoulder belt over the collarbone and crossing the center of the chest. Belts should be free of slack and lying flat with no twists or knots. If necessary, slide the attachment on the door post up or down to fit the size of you or your passenger. Shoulder belts should not be placed under the arm or behind the back as this can cause serious internal injuries or ejection in the event of a crash. Safety belts, when maintained and used properly, can reduce the chance of fatally injury to adults by 45 to 65 percent. Properly functioning airbag systems can further reduce these risks. If you have concerns about recent product recalls related to your vehicle’s safety belt or your child’s safety seat, use your vehicle identification number or seat serial number to find current recall information on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website at http://www.nhtsa.gov/ or check with the product manufacturer. Child safety seats reduce the likelihood of infants under 1-year-old being killed in a crash by 71 percent and the fatal risk for toddlers aged 1 to 4 by 54 percent. The US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates 9,310 lives were saved by the proper use of child safety seats between 1975 and 2009. Oregon law requires children less than forty pounds be restrained in a child seat. Children under one year or weighing less than twenty pounds must be restrained in a rear-facing child seat. A child over forty pounds must be restrained in either a child seat or a booster seat appropriate for their size until they reach age eight or 4’ 9” tall AND the adult belt system fits them correctly. For help with child seats or additional “best practice” information, refer to the seat manufacturer’s instructions, vehicle owner’s manual or call ACTS Oregon Child Safety Seat Resource Center at (503)643-5620 in Portland or (877) 793-2608.
