JEFFERSON COUNTY TRAFFIC SAFETY TASK FORCE

Linda Pfafman, Project Coordinator Jefferson County Sheriff's Office 79 Elkins Road - Port Hadlock, WA 98339 Phone: (360) 385-3831 ext 521 Cell: (360) 821-9991 Fax: (360) 379-0513 Email: lpfafman@co.jefferson.wa.us

The Jefferson County Traffic Safety Task Force is coordinated by Linda Pfafman of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. The task force collaborates with local law enforcement and organizations to help educate citizens on traffic and pedestrian safety issues as well as promote safe driving methods.

Classes and Programs:

Jefferson County Traffic Safety School:
If a driver receives a traffic infraction in Jefferson County, he may be eligible for a deferral if he requests a mitigation hearing. By successfully completing a deferral, the Court will NOT report the ticket to the Department of Licensing. A driver may defer only one moving and one non-moving infraction each seven years. To complete the deferral, the driver must (1) pay an administrative fee equal to the penalty amount shown on the face of the infraction, (2) not commit a new traffic infraction for one year, and (3) attend traffic safety school within 6 months. Jefferson County Traffic Safety Class is 6-hours and is held at the Tri-Area Community Center in Chimacum on the first Saturday of each month.

AARP Mature Driver Traffic Safety Classes:
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office sponsors AARP Mature Driver Traffic Safety Classes throughout the County. Drivers 55 years and older become eligible to receive an “appropriate” discount on their car insurance after completing this 8-hour traffic safety course and receiving a certificate. Most car insurance companies give discounts of 5% to 10% for two to three years. The class is open to all ages. AARP Mature Driver Safety schedules may be found by visiting the AARP Driver Safety Program Web site.

Child Car Seat Safety:
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office sponsors the Jefferson County Child Passenger Safety Team. Free child car seat inspections are done at clinics several times a year or by appointment.

Free child car seats are available to those who cannot afford them.

Because child car seats are not available for sale in Jefferson County, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office sponsors a “Child Car Seat Loaner Program.” Seats are available to grandparents for use by visiting grandchildren. A $20 donation is requested for each two-week period of use. The child car seats are installed in the grandparent’s vehicle and the grandparents are educated on issues of child passenger safety.

The Traffic Safety Task Force Coordinator is a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician Instructor.

Bike Helmets:
Bike helmets are given to children and adults who cannot otherwise afford them. The helmets are fitted at the time of distribution.

Reducing Underage Drinking:
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is the recipient of a Reducing Underage Drinking (RUaD) grant from the Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse.

The Sheriff’s Office sponsors monthly compliance checks of licensed establishments in cooperation with the Washington State Liquor Control Board and the Port Townsend Police Department. In an attempt to reduce underage drinking, the task force sponsors annual Responsible Alcohol Sales classes for the owners and employees of licensed establishments.

The Traffic Safety Task Force along with Jefferson County Public Health held two series of the Strengthening Families Program and promoted three Town Hall Meetings on the Reducing Underage Drinking since 2005.

Senior Citizen Driver Safety:
CarFit®, a program that was developed by AARP, AAA, the American Occupational Therapists Association, and the American Society on Aging, emphasizes traffic safety by examining the driver-car ‘fit.’ Some areas of concern are comfortable and safe usage of safety restraints, distance from airbag and placement of hands on the steering wheel equipped with an airbag, mirror adjustments, extension and easy movement of feet between gas and brake pedals. Problem areas are identified by inspectors and the driver is referred to an occupational therapist, who offers problem-solving suggestions such as exercises or specialized equipment that will increase driver safety. The Traffic Safety Task Force Coordinator has been trained as a CarFit® Inspector and has arranged for clinics in Port Ludlow and Sequim.

Resource Links:

• AARP Driver Safety Program Web site
• Driving 101 Highway Safety Corridor Project
• Jefferson County Sheriff's Dept. - http://www.jeffersonsheriff.org/index.asp
• Jefferson County Traffic Safety - http://www.jeffersonsheriff.org/traffic.html
• NHTSA Motor Vehicle Traffic Safety Facts - Jefferson County
• Port Townsend Police Dept. - http://www.cityofpt.us/Police/