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37 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, February 16, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classifieds Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend January 20, 2005 More than our share of traffic deaths Jackson County has 6.7% of Oregon’s licenced drivers and 10% of highway fatalities By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune About 10 percent of all Oregon traffic fatalities during 2004 occurred on roads in Jackson County, according to statistics provided by the state Department of Transportation. A total of 445 people in Oregon died in vehicle crashes last year, according to ODOT. Forty four of those deaths occurred in Jackson County, which ranked second to only Multnomah County (47) in the number of people killed in traffic wrecks during 2004. Last year, more people died on roads in Jackson County than in any year since at least 1985, ODOT statistics show. An average of 28 people per year have died in traffic crashes in Jackson County since 1988, according to the county sheriff’s department. Local law-enforcement officials say they believe the one-year rise in fatal traffic wrecks is due in part to a lack of traffic enforcement created by tight state and county budgets. "Everyone knows if you have a patrol cruiser out on a road consistently, people are less likely to commit traffic violations," said Jackson County Sheriff Mike Winters. "The number one thing to do (in order to reduce the number of traffic deaths) is increase the presence of police on the streets." Advertisement Oregon State Police Lt. Kurt Barthel said last month during an interview with the Mail Tribune that although he believes traffic statistics are cyclic in nature, the recent increase in Jackson County fatalities could be a result of a perception by the public that law enforcement is not "readily available and always on hand." Because of repeated budget cuts, OSP currently has about 300 troopers patrolling state roads, compared to more than 600 in 1980. While nearly 10 percent of the state’s fatal wrecks last year were in Jackson County, only about 6.7 percent of Oregon’s licensed drivers live in the county, ODOT spokesman David House said. "In general, most fatals happen on highways, with speed being the common factor," House said. "Jackson County is along the I-5 corridor, and there are lots of people driving through who do not live there." Despite the spike in traffic deaths in Jackson County during 2004, overall fatalities in Oregon dropped 13 percent from the previous year. Statewide, a total of 512 people died in vehicle crashes during 2003, compared to 445 last year. "While this is encouraging news, 445 lives still were lost on Oregon roads," Troy Costales, administrator of ODOT’s transportation-safety division, said in a news release. "This represents a tragic loss for the families, as well as a loss to friends, employers, businesses and the state economy as a whole." In Josephine County, 17 people died in traffic wrecks during 2004. Twenty two people were killed in Klamath County crashes, ODOT statistics show. Reach reporter Jack Moranat 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers Advertisement s