EDMOND —
Edmond cops are helping test the effectiveness of a new combined high-visibility enforcement campaign designed to save lives on state roadways.
Edmond Police Sgt. Acey Hopper said the agency is part of the statewide “More Cops, More Stops” campaign, a special enforcement effort utilizing Oklahoma’s basic highway safety laws related to impaired driving, seat belt use, speeding and other traffic safety violations.
Oklahoma is working with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on this demonstration project to test the effectiveness of combined enforcement.
Hopper said statistics show that impaired driving, not wearing seatbelts and speeding claim far too may lives and violators will not be tolerated.
Edmond officers will be looking for all drivers engaging in risky behaviors — especially anyone drinking and driving, not wearing a seat belt or speeding, Hopper said.
Nighttime passenger vehicle occupants are among those least likely to buckle up and most likely to die in crashes when unrestrained; therefore, nighttime enforcement has become a growing priority to the Edmond Police Department, Hopper said.
“When you compare unbelted nighttime passenger vehicle occupants to those unbelted during the day, you can see that getting people to buckle up at night is a priority,” he said.
Nearly 500 passengers died in Oklahoma traffic crashes in 2010, and 60 percent of them were not wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash, according to statistics released by the EPD.
Additionally, 33 percent of fatalities in crashes on state roads involved an alcohol-impaired driver. And 28 percent of all Oklahomans killed in crashes were involved in a speed-related crash.
Research and fatal crash statistics show that young adult males age 18-34 are the most likely to practice high-risk behaviors while driving, such as drinking and driving or not wearing seat belts, according to the information from the EPD.
Of 18- to 34-year-olds killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in Oklahoma in 2010, 40 percent were involved in an alcohol-impaired driving crash; 76 percent of 18- to 34-year-old passengers killed were not wearing their seat belts; and 30 percent were involved in a speeding-related crash.
“Our goals are to make our roadways safer for everyone and to save lives,” Hopper said. “We take these laws seriously year-round, but during this special crackdown, we will be out in force, and those who are caught breaking the law will be stopped and ticketed or arrested.”
The enforcement effort ends Sunday.
ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT
On Monday, the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office announced that law enforcement agencies in eight states will be participating in the quarterly “Get Your ‘Clicks’ on Route 66” crackdown focusing on seat belt and child passenger safety laws.
The mobilization runs for 24 hours on Friday.
The Route 66 enforcement effort began in 2010 with a handful of law enforcement agencies in central Oklahoma. The 24-hour mobilizations now take place four times a year along Route 66 and involve law enforcement agencies from Illinois to California.
“These focused enforcement periods along Route 66 have turned out to be a great way to remind people of the importance of buckling up,” Oklahoma Highway Patrol Lt. Ben Crockett said.
Seat belts and child car seats are the best way to protect you and your family in the event of a crash, Crockett said. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 13,000 lives are saved across the country every year by seat belts and child restraints, and motorists are 75 percent less likely to be killed in rollover crashes if they are buckled up.
Crockett said officers made about 300 contacts along Route 66 during the 24-hour campaign in May. The 24-hour mobilizations now take place four times a year along Route 66 and involve law enforcement agencies from Illinois to California.
marks@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 108
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EPD increases night seat belt enforcement
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The Edmond Senior Center, 2733 Marilyn Williams Drive, is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. F or information about Edmond senior programs, stop by and pick up a monthly calendar, check out the Web site at edmondseniorcenter.com or call 216-7600.
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