Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 6, 2009)
Page 12 The INDEPENDENT, August 6, 2009 Columbia County drivers feel the need for speed and then do it Despite the risk of costly fines, driver’s license suspen- sions, jail time, death and seri- ous injury, it appears that Co- lumbia County drivers feel the need to speed – and one way or another, many have paid the price. According to the latest statistics from the Oregon De- partment of Transportation’s Transportation Safety Division (TSD), excessive speed played a role in 50 percent of Colum- bia County’s 2008 traffic fatali- ties. In fact, speed is the num- ber one cause of traffic fatali- ties and injuries in Oregon, and a contributing factor in half of the state’s fatal crashes each year. “When looking at the factors contributing to auto crashes in Oregon, the number of fatali- ties, and the quantity and severity of injuries, the statis- tics paint a vivid and frightening picture,” said Steve Vitolo, TSD statewide traffic law enforce- ment program manager. “Speed kills – and it isn’t just the speeding drivers who lose their lives; it’s innocent drivers and passengers; it’s construc- tion workers and law enforce- ment officers; it’s family mem- bers and friends.” Right now in Oregon, people who choose to speed kill more innocent Oregonians than drunk drivers. In 2008 alone, there were 210 speed-related fatalities in Oregon. And 40 per- cent of those killed in speed-re- lated crashes in Oregon were innocent victims. In order to curb speeding in Oregon, law enforcement offi- cers are using new technolo- gies to pinpoint speeders. Laser devices track speed and determine the distance be- tween vehicles, allowing offi- cers to hand out steep fines and license suspensions to de- ter drivers from this deadly be- havior. Today in Oregon, ex- ceeding the speed limit by 30 mph can lead to a 30-day dri- ver’s license suspension and a $679 fine. Speeds of 100 mph or more could earn drivers a $1,103 fine plus a 30- to 90-day driver’s license suspension. Studies show that the major- ity of motorists ignore speed limits because they believe they can maintain control of their vehicle, regardless of con- ditions. In reality, speeding re- duces a driver’s ability to steer safely around curves or objects in the roadway, extends the dis- tance necessary to stop a vehi- cle and increases the distance a vehicle travels while the driv- er reacts to a dangerous situa- tion — increasing both the like- lihood and severity of crashes. Plus speeding-related crashes that result in fatalities are four times more likely to occur on a rural road than on an urban highway or freeway. “People think that most fatal crashes happen on freeways and that they can get away with speeding on less crowded rural roads, but that’s just not true,” adds Vitolo. “Rural roads and local neighborhood streets pro- vide less room to maneuver and more instances when driv- ers must react to unexpected circumstances.” TSD is working to educate the public about the dangerous and deadly consequences of speeding. This summer, as Oregonians take to local roads for close-to-home vacations, TSD urges drivers to: • Slow down and obey post- ed speed limits. • Consider the compounded severity of crashes that occur when traveling even a few miles per hour over the limit. • Take into account that time saved by speeding is negligible at best, and deadly at worst. Speeding is not worth the in- creased risk of a severe crash. • Remember the greater danger of speeding on rural and neighborhood roads. For more information about excessive speeding in Colum- bia County and TSD’s cam- paign urging drivers to “slow down,” contact Steve Vitolo, TSD statewide traffic law en- forcement program manager at 503-932-0493. For more infor- mation about TSD, visit http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/ TS/Traffic_Enforcement.shtml. Wage & hour handbook now ready The long awaited 2009 Wage and Hour Handbook is now available from the Bureau of Labor and Industries’ (BOLI) Technical Assistance for Em- ployers Program. The newly re- vised and updated handbook provides a comprehensive guide to Oregon wage and hour laws for employers, and is an excellent employment law resource produced by the agency responsible for the en- forcement of these laws. The updated handbook, available for $40 plus shipping, gives employers comprehen- sive information on wage and hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, deductions, rest and meal periods, and child labor. Moreover, since employment laws change fre- quently, this handbook is an ex- cellent guide on new laws passed by Oregon’s legisla- ture. “At BOLI, we are committed to helping our state’s business- es and employers succeed and thrive,” said State Labor Com- missioner Brad Avakian. “This handbook will help employers and businesses better under- stand Oregon employment laws, navigate difficult issues, and stay in compliance.” The Technical Assistance Program is BOLI’s employer- focused education and infor- mation service for individuals and businesses with questions about employment law and compliance. The Program of- fers seminars and handbooks for a fee, as well as a free phone and email hotline for employer questions. The services provided by the Technical Assistance Program are funded with few taxpayer dollars and depend heavily on the sales of publications like this, and attendance fees from the seminars they conduct on various employment law topics. Through your support, our TA program can continue to an- swer more than 25,000 em- ployer questions via phone and e-mail, conduct more than 220 public seminars, and produce educational materials like this each year. “As an employment law at- torney, I rely on being able to refer to my clients to BOLI for employment law information,” said Richard Meneghello, a la- bor and employment attorney with Fisher & Phillips. “I regu- See BOLI on page 16