Transportation Safety Newsletter, August 2020

Oregon Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 08/03/2020 10:54 AM PDT

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August 2020

Stop on Red

Safety is the responsibility of every driver — not just during Stop on Red Week during August 2-8, 2020, but every day and every time someone gets behind the wheel. Intersection safety is an extremely important aspect of road safety. Learn more about the Ten Reasons to Stop on Red based on the most recent statistics about red-light running. Red-light runners cause hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands of injuries each year. We can stop it. #StopOnRed2020

Traffic at night on a highway in Portland

U.S. Traffic Fatality Rate Surges

New data from the National Safety Council (NSC) found the U.S. traffic fatality rate jumped 23.5% in May, compared to the year prior, despite the number of vehicle miles driven in that month dropping 25.5% amid pandemic-related stay-at-home orders. In this recent article, Smart Cities Dive covers the recent uptick in fatality rate nationwide.

Road sign: "STATE LAW: MOVE OVER OR SLOW DOWN FOR VEHICLES STOPPED FOR EMERGENCY

Move Over Law

When approaching any vehicle on the side of the road showing warning or hazard lights or indicating distress, Oregon law says you must Move Over, if you can do so safely, or slow down 5 MPH below the posted speed.

Most importantly, drivers should be alert. If you can safely move over when approaching a vehicle stopped for an emergency, do so. If you can't, slow down.

High-Risk Impaired Drivers

GHSA's report, "High-Risk Impaired Drivers: Combating a Critical Threat," focuses on the challenges and opportunities associated with the high-risk impaired driver.

Map of the United States; alcohol impaired driving fatality rates per 100 million VMT by state in 2018

Measuring Alcohol-Impaired Driving

A new report, “State Alcohol-Impaired-Driving Estimates,” was released by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Making Travel More Equitable

Thirty years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act became a federal civil rights law prohibiting discrimination based on disability in the United States. Transportation Research Board has developed a three series blog on equity in transportation. Part 1 explores resources around socioeconomic equity. Part 2 will delve into resources around transportation accessibility for people with disabilities. Part 3 will highlight resources for improving inclusion and diversity in the transportation workforce.

Safe Routes to School state report cards map

Safe Routes to School Oregon Report Card

The Safe Routes Partnership has released Making Strides: 2020 State Report Cards on Support for Walking, Bicycling, and Active Kids and Communities, a report that helps state leaders and decision makers prioritize transportation and physical activity investments, resources, and policies that support active communities. The state report cards provide a snapshot of how supportive each state is of walking, bicycling, and physical activity for children and adults as of 2020.

EMT assisting child on a gurney with a pediatric restraint system and teddy bear

Pediatric Restraint Systems

This year, ODOT provided a grant to the Oregon Emergency Medical Services for Children Program to provide pediatric restraint systems to Oregon rural and frontier EMS ground transport agencies. In July, 38 agencies were awarded a total of 93 Ferno Pedi-Mate Plus pediatric restraint systems along with additional educational resources.