February 18th, 2020

Between February 3rd and February 16th, the Medford Police Department participated in a high-visibility traffic enforcement operation focusing on safety belt and child restraint use. On these dates, law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon used federally funded overtime to educate the public about safety belt and child seat laws including a 2017 law increasing safety for children under age two.

During this two week operation, the Medford Police Department stopped 74 vehicles and issued 71 citations. 34 of those citations were for failing to use a seatbelt.

                Motor vehicle crashes are the leading nationwide cause of death for children ages one through twelve years old. In 2017, 1,906 children under twelve were injured in Oregon traffic crashes, 9 percent were reported not using a child restraint system. It is estimated that car seats may increase crash survival by 71% for infants under one year old and by up to 59% for toddlers aged one to four. Booster seats may reduce the chance of nonfatal injury among four to eight year olds by 45% compared to safety belts used alone.

                The most recent complete report by ODOT in 2017 shows that there were 11 fatalities in Jackson County during that year and that in 4 of those fatal accidents, seatbelts were not used (36.36%). Studies have shown that safety belts used correctly can reduce the risk of major crash injury or death by up to sixty- five percent. The Medford Police Department would like to remind the public to drive safely and always use their seatbelt in a proper manner while operating their vehicle.