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~ ,~T ~ <br /> <br /> _ ~ <br /> July 24, 2003 <br /> I <br /> CONTACT: j Pam Olshanski ,Eugene Police Public Information Director, 682-5124 <br /> Gretchen McKenzie, ODOT Impaired Driving Program Manager, 503 986-4183. <br /> From Public I formation Section, 682-5523 <br /> FOR IMMEDI TE RELEASE <br /> New Traffic Signs Remind Motorists to `Drive Sober, Save Lives' <br /> New t affic signs being placed around town remind motorists to "drive sober, save lives." <br /> Oreg n is a test site for the new signs, which show a red line through a cocktail glass. The signs <br /> were develop d by the Governor's Advisory Committee on Driving Under the Influence of intoxicants <br /> (DUII) and ap roved by the State Traffic Engineer and- the U.S. Department of Transportation. If the <br /> signs are suc essful in Oregon, they may be used in other states. <br /> Appr ximately 130 signs are being put up statewide. In Eugene, the signs are being placed on <br /> northbound burg Road near the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard exit, on southbound Coburg Road <br /> near Third A nue, on eastbound Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard across from the east end of <br /> Centennial Lop, on the corner of West Seventh Avenue and Willamette Street, and on westbound 11`n <br /> Avenue acro~s from Arthur Street. <br /> "We' a selected locations where we see the highest volume of traffic," said Officer Jerry Webber, <br /> DUII grant c rdinator for the Eugene Police Department. "Every person who makes a decision not to <br /> drive impairew~ is a potential life saved or injury avoided, and these signs are another tool to reinforce the <br /> message of of drinking and driving." <br /> Goal of the state Transportation Safety Division program to curb impaired driving are to reduce <br /> the percents a of traffic fatalities that are alcohol involved to 36.6%, or 165, by the year 2005, and reduce <br /> the percents a of traffic fatalities that are drug involved to 8%, or 35, by the year 2005. In addition to the <br /> new signs, o Iher DUII program activities include law enforcement training, judicial training, community <br /> mini-grants, nd purchase of specialty law enforcement equipmen <br /> i <br /> P~blic Works • Administration • City of Eugene • 858 Pearl Street • Eugene, OR 97401 <br /> Phone: (541) 682-5262 • FAX: (541) 682-6826 • www.ci.eugene.or.us <br /> <br />