RELEASED BY: Sergeant Brad Johnston

DETAILS:

For the next two weeks, Clatsop County law enforcement agencies will be focusing on safety belt usage. Astoria, Seaside and Warrenton Police Departments will be using grant funds to provide an extra presence focused on safety belt use. All Clatsop County law enforcement agencies will be participating in the focus.  “Click it or Ticket” will be a good phrase to keep in mind for vehicle occupants.

The focus on safety belt enforcement is part of the “Three Flags” campaign that joins police officers in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia focusing on raising the usage rate for safety belts. In Oregon alone there are 37 Sheriff’s offices, 67 Police Departments and the Oregon State Police participating.

During this focus on safety belts Officers will also be paying special attention to child restraints and improper usage. Among 4-8 year old children, observed booster seat usage was only 58%, compared to an adult usage rate of 96% in adults. Oregon Child Restraint Law requires that a child weighing less than 40 pounds must be properly restrained in a child safety seat. A child under one year of age or weighing less than twenty pounds must be restrained in a rear facing child seat. A child over forty pounds but under age eight or less than 4’9” tall must be restrained in a booster seat that elevates them so the lap/shoulder belts fit correctly. A great resource for child safety seat information is www.childsafetyseat.org.

Improper use of safety seats is a serious problem. The safety features of a car are designed around the fact that the person in the vehicle is properly restrained. Oregon law looks at wearing the safety belt improperly the same as not wearing it at all. Proper use of the safety belt is to wear it low across the lap with the shoulder belt across the center of the chest crossing over the collarbone. The most common misuse that officers encounter is the occupant of a vehicle wearing the shoulder portion of the safety belt under the arm. While this may increase comfort pre-collision. However, in a crash the safety belt will not restrain the driver as intended but may cause internal injuries or allow ejection. To increase comfort, occupants should use the height adjustment found in newer cars and/or adjust their seating position to change the shoulder belt’s angle.

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