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On Friday, June 2, 2023, the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Traffic Team will use grant-funded overtime to educate the public about safety-belt and child-seat laws.
The goal of the nationwide "Safety Belt Overtime Blitz" campaign is to save lives. While seatbelt education and enforcement will be their primary focus, deputies will also be on the lookout for speeding, distracted driving and other violations impacting traffic safety.
Among the laws deputies will be enforcing is an Oregon law passed in 2017 that requires children to ride in a rear-facing safety seat until they are at least 2 years old. A child over the age of 2 can move to a front-facing car seat with a five-point harness. Once a child reaches 40 pounds, they can use a booster seat until they reach age 8 or a height of 4'9".
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading nationwide cause of death for children ages 1-13. And ODOT crash data shows that a lack of safety-belt or child-restraint use has been a factor in about a quarter of motor-vehicle occupant fatalities.
It is estimated that car seats may increase crash survival by 71% for infants under 1 year old and by up to 59% for toddlers ages 1-4. And booster seats may reduce the chance of nonfatal injury among 4- to 8-year-olds by 45% compared to safety belts used alone.
LEARN MORE:
For help selecting or installing a car seat for your child:
https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/car-seats-and-booster-seats