Jackson County, Ore — There’s an alarming increase in motor vehicle deaths throughout the country and Oregon has one of the biggest increases.
When you get in your car you’re usually thinking about your destination, but a new study by the national safety council says the journey is becoming more dangerous every year, especially right here in Oregon.
Oregon State Police Sergeant Jeff Allison is on patrol, looking to prevent fatal accidents on his roadways.
“With the lower amount of staffing on the road lately, the increase of travelers, we are seeing more impaired driving crashes, and with that comes the fatalities,” said Sgt. Allison.
The increase in fatalities in Oregon is staggering, between 2014 and 2015 the number of traffic related deaths jumped from 350 to 446, a 27 percent increase, between 2013 and last year the number of fatalities increased by 42 percent, second highest in the nation.
“Multiple times a day we’ll get a call about a reckless driver, a distracted driver, an impaired driver,” said Sgt. Allison.
In Jackson and Josephine County many of those deaths are attributed to impaired driving.
“The rough stat on impaired driving is 50% of the people who are impaired who get in a crash are going to cause a fatality be it themselves or an innocent person on the road,” said Sgt. Allison.
Sgt. Allison says being safe on the roads starts and ends with you, the driver.
“Slow down and relax, get there safe”.
The national study shows an overall 8% increase in motor vehicle deaths last year. A major contributing factor
Oregon’s increase is second only to Wyoming.
Troopers say if you see someone who appears to be impaired, call it in, you could save a life.
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