Transportation Safety Newsletter, July 2022

Oregon Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 06/30/2022 10:37 AM PDT

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July 2022

Fourth of July

This 4th of July plan a sober ride home.

We all love to celebrate the Fourth of July with family, friends, food, and fireworks, but all too often the festivities turn tragic on our roads. The fact is, this American holiday is one of the deadliest holidays of the year due to increased impaired driving crashes.

Average DUII cost? $10,000.

Average rideshare cost? $25.

It’s an easy choice. If you’ve been drinking, call a sober friend, rideshare, or taxi to get you home safely.

7 people are killed every day in crashes with a teen driver.

“100 Deadliest Days” Begin

The 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are when the number of crash fatalities involving teen drivers rise, including in Oregon, according to AAA. Teen drivers are at a higher risk of crashes, in part due to their inexperience behind the wheel.

Text: safety matters. Image: police vehicle on roadway with orange traffic cones behind it.

Traffic Safety Enforcement

A new research study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirms that high visibility enforcement (HVE) of traffic safety laws has a positive and measurable impact on roadway safety by reducing dangerous driving behaviors that put road users at risk.

New Report on Distracted Driving

Park your phone. Distracted driving is illegal.

The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and General Motors (GM) today released a new report with a singular goal: Change the social norm around distracted driving to make it completely unacceptable so all road users get home safely. The report, which is one of the most comprehensive examinations to date of how to reduce driver distraction, examines the extent of the problem and provides more than two dozen recommendations.

Teen Drowsy Driving

It only takes a second for sleep to hit you.

Drowsy driving is considered a factor in about 7 percent of all crashes and about 16.5 percent of all fatal crashes. Teens are more likely to crash than drivers in all other age groups, and that risk is highest during the first month after they obtain a license. In 2020, vehicle crashes were the leading cause of unintentional injury death for 15-to-24-year-olds. For the youngest drivers, sleep deprivation piles on the risk.

Safe Passage for Bikes

Give people on bicycles extra space. Share the road. The Way to Go.

When you’re passing someone on a bike, slow down, pass only on the left unless the rider is making a left turn, and give people on bicycles extra space – make sure to leave enough space to avoid contact if the rider should fall. Pass safely – it can be life-saving! More safety tips available in the rack card in English and Spanish. Order free copies by visiting ODOT’s Storeroom website.

Oregon22 Traffic Impacts

The World Athletics Championships are coming to the United States for the first time ever. The best track and field athletes in the world will come together on July 15-24 in Eugene, nicknamed "TrackTown USA,” in Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. Check out the event page for more information about getting to the venue and potential traffic impacts. Plan your trip at TripCheck.com or dial 511 for road conditions and travel information 24/7.

Safe Routes to School Projects

Girl on bicycle with family on paved bike path.

For over 16 years, ODOT Safe Routes to School has been committed to helping communities implement safe routes to school programs, through education initiatives and infrastructure improvements. We're pleased to announce awards for several communities that will further their efforts to create safe options for students going to and from schools.

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established the new Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program with $5 billion in appropriated funds over the next 5 years. In fiscal year 2022 (FY22), up to $1 billion is available. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.