Transportation Safety Newsletter, February 2019

Oregon Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 01/31/2019 07:08 PM PST

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February 2019

Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk

As Super Bowl LIII quickly approaches, ODOT would like to remind football fans that designated drivers are the best defense against the dangers of drunk driving. Super Bowl is a festive night in homes and bars across America, but if your night involves alcohol, plan for a sober ride home. We want to remind everyone that Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk. Even one drink can impair judgement. You should never put yourself, or others, at risk because you made the choice to drink and drive.

Safety should be your number one priority: When it’s time to leave the party, make sure your designated driver is actually sober. If he or she decided to drink, you should call a cab or call someone else who you know hasn’t been drinking. Remember that walking impaired can also be dangerous, so designate a sober friend to walk home with you if needed. If you are driving, remember that sober driving isn’t the only law that should be followed: Make sure you—and your driver—wear your safety belts. It’s your best defense in a crash.

'Do Not Disturb' While Driving

One way to fight distracted driving is to take smartphones out of the equation by limiting their functionality while the vehicle is moving. The catch, though, is convincing drivers to use a blocker app if installed. A new IIHS survey found that only 1 in 5 owners of iPhone 6 and newer phones have Apple's 'Do Not Disturb While Driving' feature set to automatically turn on when driving.

(Source: IIHS, Jan. 2019)

Driving Over Bridges

Icy bridges, a winter weather hazard that's often underestimated, cause more injuries and fatalities than tornadoes, lighting, and floods combined each year. Slick, slippery bridge surfaces often come as a surprise as ice on a bridge may be invisible to the driver. Because vehicles can hit the icy bridge surface without warning, crashes frequently happen at full highway speed.

(Source: Automotive Fleet, Jan. 2019)

New Pedestrian & Bicyclist Newsletter

ODOT's new Pedestrian & Bicycle Programs newsletter has arrived. This quarterly update will share opportunities to give us your feedback on plans and projects, learn about project milestones, funding opportunities and upcoming events, and discover other resources related to growing and supporting our bicycle and pedestrian programs across Oregon. Check out the latest edition and subscribe to stay up-to-date!

Oregon Rated Most Driver-Friendly State

Oregon tops the list as the most driver-friendly state in the nation followed by Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Texas according to a new report. About 30 key metrics including economic factors, safety factors, traffic congestion, road quality, and car theft rates were used to rank best and worst states to drive in. Stay safe, Oregonians!