Eagle Point, Ore. — The Eagle Point Police Department, in collaboration with several law enforcement agencies across southern Oregon, has initiated an educational enforcement period to raise awareness about seat belt and child seat laws. Running from January 27 to February 9, the campaign aims to inform the public about the life-saving importance of using proper safety restraints while driving.
The education period is part of a federally funded initiative, utilizing enforcement hours to share crucial information regarding vehicle safety. As part of the program, the police department is emphasizing the critical role of seat belts and child safety seats in preventing fatalities and injuries on the road.
According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) crash data for 2022, a staggering 31% of all motor vehicle occupant fatalities in Oregon — totaling 108 out of 346 deaths — were attributed to the lack of safety belt or child restraint use. The data underscores the necessity for continued education and enforcement on this vital safety issue.
Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for children aged 1 to 12 years nationwide. In Oregon, 1,697 children under the age of 12 were injured in traffic crashes in 2022, with 16% of these children not properly restrained in a car seat or booster. Research has shown that proper use of child safety seats can dramatically improve survival rates. Car seats can increase crash survival by up to 71% for infants under one year old and up to 59% for toddlers aged 1 to 4. Booster seats are proven to reduce the likelihood of nonfatal injury among 4- to 8-year-olds by 45% compared to using a safety belt alone.
Nationally, in 2022, 50% of the 25,420 passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes were not wearing seat belts, reinforcing the importance of seat belt use for all passengers. The campaign also highlights the significance of Oregon’s 2017 law, which mandates that children remain in rear-facing car seats until at least age 2. Children over the age of 2 are required to continue using a car seat with a harness or a booster until they reach age 8 or a height of 4 feet, 9 inches, and the adult seat belt fits them correctly. This law was enacted to better protect children’s heads, necks, and spines during potential crashes, as rear-facing seats are designed to distribute crash forces more evenly and limit dangerous movement.
The ongoing education period is especially timely, as law enforcement seeks to remind the public that seat belts remain the best defense against impaired, aggressive, and distracted drivers. When properly secured, a seat belt significantly reduces the risk of ejection from a vehicle during a crash — a situation that is often fatal.
By increasing public awareness and reinforcing these crucial laws, the Eagle Point Police Department hopes to help reduce the number of fatalities and injuries caused by traffic accidents. Authorities urge all drivers and passengers to make safety a top priority by wearing seat belts and ensuring that children are correctly secured in appropriate car seats or booster seats.
For more information about child passenger safety laws, visit the Oregon Department of Transportation’s website or contact local law enforcement agencies.