|
Alexxyss Therwanger, age 19, was
killed in a car crash on February 19, 2016 while she was driving home in
eastern Oregon. Alexxyss was using her cell phone and lost control of her car,
colliding with an oncoming vehicle and severely injuring two other people. Her
story, told by her mother is sadly an all too familiar one of heartbreak and
loss.
During 2010-2014, a distracted
driving crash occurred in Oregon on average every 2.5 hours. More than 2,800
people are injured each year.
To make drivers aware of the
serious consequences of driving distracted, ODOT and Oregon State Police have
produced a distracted driving TV PSA (0:30).
Please join us and the families
who’ve mourned the loss of loved ones gone too soon in a pledge to drive
without distractions.
Red light runners cause hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands
of injuries each year throughout the U.S. Over half of those killed were
pedestrians, bicyclists, and people in other vehicles who were hit by the red
light runners according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Red
light violators likely do not realize that even low speed (30 mph) side impact
crashes can be deadly. Failure to obey a traffic control device in Oregon is a
Class B traffic violation and carries a $260 base fine. Decide now that you
will always be prepared to Stop on Red
as a driver, cyclist, or pedestrian. Obey the speed limit so you have time to
stop prior to entering the intersection.
This Labor Day weekend,
family and friends will be celebrating the end of summer. Sadly, this festive
time has also become a dangerous time for Oregon’s roads, as many impaired
drivers get behind the wheel after celebrating. For this reason, ODOT is partnering
with police agencies to stop impaired drivers and help save lives. The
high-visibility national enforcement campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, runs August 19 to September 5.
Drugs
and alcohol can affect your reaction time, your distance perception, your
vision, and your concentration. Plan ahead before you go out – designate a
sober driver and keep everyone safe.
 Please join us in welcoming Traci Pearl to ODOT Transportation
Safety Division. Traci moved to Oregon from Nevada where she was the Highway
Safety Office Administrator for eight years. Nevada is a recipient of a
multitude of NHTSA funding programs and she is very familiar with
transportation safety programs. Part of Traci’s experience includes working
with the Nevada Occupant Protection program. We are happy to have her aboard!
|
|
