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School is in session and
that means the streets are full of Oregonians of all ages walking, biking and
driving. To help everyone get to where they are going safely, ODOT is launching
a new Every Intersection is a Crosswalk
campaign to remind travelers that all intersections in Oregon are legal
crosswalks, striped or not.
In the weeks ahead, the Oregonian Crossing campaign will be seen
on bumper stickers, lawn signs, traffic signal boxes and postcards at public
events. It will help remind travelers to be careful and take it slow.
Under Oregon law:
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Every intersection is a legal crosswalk. When driving, you must stop for people showing intent to cross the street at a marked or unmarked crosswalk or at a marked mid-block crosswalk.
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When walking, you have the right of way at marked and unmarked
intersections and mid-block crosswalks when you signal intent to cross. Intent
is shown by extending your hand, foot, wheelchair, cane, crutch or bicycle into
the roadway.
ODOT and its partner agencies developed the Oregonian Crossing
safety materials to educate residents about crosswalk laws and promote safe
behaviors. For more information visit: www.oregoniancrossing.org
More than 250 schools
around the state are participating in this year’s international "Walk and
Bike to School Day" on October 7. Whether it’s an entire community event
or parents meeting at a park to walk with their kids, participating in this
event shows the many benefits of walking or biking to school, such as finding a
safe route, getting some exercise and just having fun! For more information and
to find out who is participating in Oregon, visit the Walk + Bike website.
TEAM OREGON Motorcycle Safety Program is excited to add two new
offerings to its list of approved training courses. eRider™ Basic and
Intermediate, similar to the existing Basic and Intermediate Rider Training
(BRT and IRT) courses, combine hands-on riding practice with classroom
instruction – except that classroom is now done at home on a computer. Course
content includes riding gear, motorcycle controls and operation,
accident-avoidance skills and dealing with road hazards. The courses place
heavy emphasis on riding strategy, judgment and recognizing risk. For more
information, visit team-oregon.org.
October is the busiest month for vehicle-wildlife collisions in
Oregon. With deer and elk on the move due to breeding season and migration to
winter ranges, more wildlife are crossing roads all over the state so be on
alert and be ready to slow down.
Here are some tips for safety:
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Be extra careful in areas where there is a lot of vegetation next to the road or while going around curves. Wildlife near the road may not be visible.
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Remember that the presence of any type of animal/wildlife could
also mean that others are nearby.
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When you see an animal/wildlife near or on the roadway, reduce
your speed and try to stay in your lane. Many serious crashes are the result of
drivers swerving to avoid wildlife or other obstacles and they crash into
another vehicle or lose control of their own vehicle.
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Always wear your safety belt, as even the slightest collision
could result in serious injuries.
Ghosts and goblins will
soon be frolicking on the city streets. Beware! Remind kids to stay on
sidewalks when possible and obey traffic signals. When a sidewalk is not
available, walk on the left side of the road facing traffic. Costumes with
retro reflective material or reflective tape allow children to be much more
visible and add little to the cost of costumes, so lighten up with reflectors!
Spook Safely. The Way to Go.
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