Citing mounting confusion about the rules of the road and an interest in protecting members of the University community, the Eugene Police Department partnered with the University’s Department of Public Safety to stage a Traffic Safety Day on Jan. 14.
The majority of the activity took place on Agate Street at 13th and 15th Avenues, which are the most dangerous intersections on campus, the event hosts said. While there have been similar events in the past, Traffic Safety Day was the first time that EPD and DPS collaborated.
EPD stopped drivers, cyclists and pedestrians and urged them to be conscious of their surroundings on Traffic Safety Day. Officers also informed those who committed traffic violations of the potentially fatal repercussions of their actions, issuing some citations and warnings. Eugene police Officer Dallas Hall said he issued several warnings to drivers for failing to obey a stop sign. As of press time Wednesday, DPS had not determined the total number of citations issued at the event.
Carolyn McDermed, deputy chief of DPS, said the number of collision victims is difficult to gauge, especially because some people don’t report having been involved in crashes. She also said bike crashes are a big problem on campus.
According to McDermed, the high-stress reality of college life makes collisions probable, with students, faculty and staff navigating around campus at top speeds.
Misinformation also accounts for a large percentage of crashes, McDermed said. “Most bicyclists don’t know … that they have to obey … the same rules that cars have to obey,” according to a DPS press release for Traffic Safety Day.
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EPD, DPS encourage traffic, law awareness
Daily Emerald
January 14, 2009
Emily Hutto
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