From the Office of the Sheriff Sheriff Dennis L. Dotson

For Immediate Release

NEWS RELEASE

Date: September 11, 2006

Summary:

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office successfully completed a Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operation on Highway 101 in Waldport on July 01, 2006. The local enforcement effort was funded by a traffic safety grant from The Bicycle Transportation Alliance and Willamette Pedestrian Coalition. The purpose of the operation was to raise driver and public awareness regarding pedestrian safety. The operation involved the use of a decoy pedestrian walking back and forth across the highway in a marked crosswalk. Traffic cones were deployed on the highway indicating where the operation began and ended for motorists traveling both directions through the operation. The operation lasted 3 hours.

Deputies issued 16 citations to motorists who failed to stop for the pedestrian. Educational brochures were also distributed to 15 motorists who were issued warnings. There were a total of 42 documented violations by motorists who failed to stop for the decoy pedestrian. 182 motorists correctly stopped for the pedestrian resulting in a compliance rate of 83%.

Some pedestrians in the area contacted the deputies involved in the operation with comments such as, "Thanks for being here" and "I wish you could be here everyday." Most of the motorists who were stopped told deputies that they just didn't see the pedestrian in the crosswalk.

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office will conduct another Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operation in Waldport on September 08, 2006.

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