New Safety Campaign Underway in Oregon Targets Impaired Drivers (AUDIO)

Alcohol is a factor in more than a third of all Oregon traffic fatalities.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM) - The Labor Day weekend is second only to the Memorial Day weekend in terms of the percentage of alcohol-related traffic fatalities across Oregon.

Law enforcement agencies in Oregon, in partnership with the Oregon Department of Transportation, are joining the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration’s national impaired-driving enforcement blitz “Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest” that runs now through Labor Day.

ODOT Spokesman David House says there was a total of 266 crashes in Oregon over the Labor Day holiday weekend last year.

In 2004, Alcohol was an even bigger factor. Four of the eight people killed on Oregon roads over the three-day holiday that year died in 15 alcohol-related crashes.

Among the 488 people killed in Oregon traffic crashes in 2005, 162 died as a result of crashes in which alcohol was a factor.

House explains the new program.

A conviction for driving under the influence of intoxicants can lead to driver license suspension, in addition to expensive fines and perhaps legal fees as well.

Refusal to take a breath test when requested by law enforcement will result in an enhanced suspension, and a citation punishable by a fine up to $1,000.

In addition, Oregon safety laws have zero-tolerance for drivers under the age of 21.

Any amount of alcohol detected in a minor driver violates Oregon law.

According to ODOT crash data, the Labor Day weekend has the second-highest percentage of alcohol-involved fatalities of the year. Only the Memorial Day holiday period is higher:

Memorial Day - 56%

Labor Day - 53%

Independence Day - 50%

New Year’s - 45%

Thanksgiving - 39%

Christmas - 37%