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While safety is on our minds 24/7, we set aside the month of May
to celebrate it ‘officially.’ It’s Transportation Safety Month, and that
includes:
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Being safe in work zones: both as a driver and a worker.
- Riding motorcycles safely and “seeing” motorcycles when you’re in a vehicle out on the roads.
- Buckling up, every trip, every time – and keeping your child passengers in the right restraint system.
ODOT crash statistics show that the main causes of crashes in workzones are inattention, speeding, and driving too fast for conditions. Did you know…
- Almost half of all contractors nationwide have had crashes in their work zones.
- Four out of five work zone fatalities are drivers or passengers.
- On average over the past 20 years, one work zone crash happens every 19 hours in Oregon.
- Traffic fines are double in work zones 24/7 whether workers are present or not.
We urge travelers to take a couple of actions to protect themselves, their passengers, and construction workers:
- Slow down and expect delays as you approach a work zone: It may be your life you save.
- Inattention is the biggest cause of work zone crashes. Don’t let it be you!
- We’re doing more to protect workers and you: Help us! Please slow down and pay attention as you approach and pass through a work zone.
Sunshine in the forecast and
summer around the corner means more and more motorcyclists will be taking to
Oregon’s winding roads. With that in mind, Governor Kate Brown has proclaimed
May 2015 Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Here are some safety tips for drivers and motorcyclists.
Drivers
- Always make a visual check for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic and at intersections.
- Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic.
- Because of a motorcycle’s small size it may be difficult to predict how fast they are going. Allow extra time before turning or pulling in front of a motorcyclist.
- Look once, look twice and then look again. They may be closer than you think.
Motorcyclists
- Always wear a helmet and highly visible, protective clothing.
- Allow time and space to react to other motorists or changing road conditions.
- Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic.
- Don't speed.
- Motorcycle rider training and education save lives. TEAM OREGON offers classes for beginner to advanced riders.
Learn more about TEAM OREGON motorcycle training.
As part of a national
safety belt campaign, law enforcement agencies will be stepping up enforcement
May 18 to 31, just ahead of one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.
Every day, unbuckled motorists are losing their lives in motor vehicle crashes.
As we approach Memorial Day weekend and summer vacation season, we want to make
sure Oregonians are doing the one thing that can save them in a crash, buckling
up.
Wearing a safety belt reduces the risk of a fatal injury by 40-50 percent
for drivers and front seat occupants. That’s why participating law enforcement agencies
will be taking a no-excuses approach to safety belt enforcement. Those three
seconds you take to put on your belt could save your life.
Click on the image below to view this short (0:30) video. #3Seconds2Life
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