With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, the last place you want to be is in the doghouse. And few things are more sure to put you out there, next to ol’ Fido, then doing something stupid while driving and getting yourself a ticket.
You’ll want to drive the roads around Canby extra carefully starting next week, as the Canby Police Department has announced they will once again participate in Click It or Ticket, a nationwide traffic safety campaign to emphasize the importance of proper safety belt use.
Additionally, the campaign focuses on the perils of distracted driving and unlawful speeding. The program is set to begin on Feb. 3rd and continue through the 16th.
The two-week blitz is a multi-jurisdictional approach to help ensure motorists respect, obey and understand the importance of driving safely and the associated responsibilities of operating a motor vehicle.
Canby police officers will be focusing on enforcement at various times and days during the campaign. They’ll be watching for overall seat belt compliance, along with violations surrounding unlawful cell phone use, such as talking or texting while driving, speeding and driving without a valid license.
The most recent ODOT crash data shows lack of safety belt or child restraint use was a factor in 22 percent of the motor vehicle fatalities in our state. Speeding was a factor in 30 percent of traffic fatalities last year in Oregon, and the unlawful use of mobile phones continues to be a frequent cause of crashes as well.
And for you parents out there, seat-belt compliance also means car seat compliance. In 2017, an Oregon law was passed requiring children to ride in a rear-facing safety seat until they are at least 2 years old.
A child over age 2 must continue to ride in a car seat with a harness, or in a booster, until they reach age 8 or 4 feet, 9 inches, in height and the adult belt fits them correctly.
The recent law is aimed at better protecting children’s head, neck, and spine from potential crash injuries, Canby police say. This is because a rear-facing seat spreads crash forces evenly across the seat and child’s body while also limiting forward or sideways motion of the head.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading nationwide cause of death for children ages 1 to 12 years old.
This enforcement effort is made possible through dedicated federal funding that will provide overtime opportunities to carry out the campaign. Drive safe, and remember to buckle up.
