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| National Holiday Lifesaver Weekend (December 15-17, 2006) | ||
| 12/15/2006 | ||
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Lieutenant Gregg Hastings Public Information Officer Office: (503) 731-3020 ext. 247 Pager: (503) 323-3195 Photograph link valid for 30 days - Source: ODOT ( Pictured: Sergeant Timothy Plummer and Mary Stewart, Executive Director of Northern Oregon MADD) http://www.flashnews.net/images/news/tieoneon.sgtplummer.JPG Oregon State Police Captain Gerry Gregg, who directs the Patrol Services Division, announced today that the State Police will work with other state police agencies, as well as local and provincial agencies, to help motorists reach their destinations safely over the holiday season, when travel and alcohol consumption typically rise. The "National Holiday Lifesaver Weekend", which begins 6:00 p.m., Friday, December 15th, and runs through 11:59 p.m., Sunday, December 17th, is a public awareness effort part of OPERATION C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) which occurs particularly during national holiday periods. On Friday, December 1st, a ceremony was held marking Governor Ted Kulongoski's signing of a proclamation declaring December as Drinking and Drugged Driving Awareness Month in Oregon. The Governor's proclamation helped kickoff the holiday season's DUII enforcement campaign. "We intend to focus on the impaired driver, as well as excessive speed, failure to use safety restraints and child safety seats," Captain Gregg said. "Our goal is to help the motorists who travel on Oregon's highways, and to keep them safe." Excessive speed, driving while impaired and failure to use safety restraints are the top three factors in Oregon fatal crashes, according to ODOT crash statistics. OSP and ODOT recognize that laws alone cannot protect travelers. Motorists themselves can do several things to make their journeys safer: * Don't drink and drive, and don't ride with anyone who has had too much to drink. * Volunteer to be a designated driver. * If you see someone you know who has had too much to drink to drive, take his or her keys. * If hosting a gathering, provide non-alcoholic beverages. * Use public transit or local drive-home services provided by taxis and other companies. * Always use safety restraints. * Report any suspected impaired driving by calling 1-800-24DRUNK (800-243-7865) or 9-1-1. With the anticipated jump in the number of people traveling along our highways starting this weekend, OSP and ODOT recommend the following travel safety tips to help get you safely to your destination: * Expect the unexpected. Be informed and prepared when traveling on any of our highways. * When traveling anywhere, plan ahead and taken known routes if possible. Our weather has been changing quickly and sometimes without warning. For road conditions in Oregon, call 5-1-1 or (800) 977-ODOT (6368). Outside Oregon, dial (503) 588-2941. Visiting TripCheck.com on the Internet provides information on road and weather conditions, incidents and traffic delays, and links to numerous cameras on many mountain passes and major routes. * Take the time to keep up current and future weather conditions in the area you are traveling, especially if going to or through higher elevations and mountain passes. * If considering a remote route that you have never traveled on, don't hesitate to contact available road and weather condition phone number or Internet resources, or contact police or highway department officials. * Prepare an emergency kit to place in your car for longer trips. * Let friends and family know what routes you plan to take when on a trip, keeping them updated and let them know if these plans change. * If traveling by vehicle and you get lost, stay with the vehicle unless it is unsafe to do so. ### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
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