Transportation Safety Newsletter, June 2023

Oregon Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 06/01/2023 10:30 AM PDT

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

June 2023

National Tire Safety Week

Summer travel season is underway! People are headed to the beach, traveling to see loved ones, or enjoying a lengthy road trip. It is important to keep tire safety top of mind. During National Tire Safety Week – June 26 to July 3 – remember to:

Check your tire pressure monthly and ahead of long trips.
Get your alignment checked.
Rotate your tires.
Inspect the tread of your tires.

Do you know how to check your tire tread? Use the penny trick. If part of Lincoln’s head is covered by the tread, you’re good to go. If you can see all of his head, it’s new tire time.

Summer Construction Season Safety

Orange traffic cones and barrels line the side of a highway. VMS board "WATCH FOR SLOW TRAFFIC."

You’ll likely see more orange signs and cones now that summer construction season is here. Review these safety tips to help protect everyone in work zones, from drivers and passengers to pedestrians and workers. Remember: when you see orange, stay alert and slow down – whether workers are present or not.

Safe Passing for Bikes

YouTube video of person riding bicycle with yellow vehicle approaching and blue skies.

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 bicycling extra space – make sure to leave enough space to avoid contact if the rider should fall. Pass safely – it can be life-saving!

New video in English and Spanish. More safety tips available in the rack card in English and Spanish. Order free copies by visiting ODOT’s Storeroom website.

Summer Travel Season

Hitting the road this summer? Plan ahead for a safe and enjoyable trip. Tripcheck.com has live cameras all over the state so you can see what the conditions look like along your route. To check for construction delays, look for traffic cone icons on the map.

For more information on construction projects, check out our Project Tracker and see what we have planned.

As you plan your adventures, make use of our summer travel tips and resources website. On this site, you’ll find valuable insights to navigate through Oregon’s construction and wildfire season, and safety and preparedness tips for all the ways you travel Oregon’s transportation system. Safe travels this summer!

Calling All Heroes!

Woman wearing all blue with hands on hips and her shadow features a cape.

Studies show that teens who complete an ODOT-approved driver education course in Oregon greatly reduce their chances of being in a fatal crash. They also have fewer traffic convictions and suspensions. But to achieve those results, aspiring drivers need guidance and teaching. That’s where you come in. Become an ODOT-approved Driver Ed instructor and help make our roads safer.

New Vehicle Technology

Person driving. Inside vehicle looking out windshield with two hands on steering wheel.

Can we kick impaired driving to the curb? New technologies may be available by automakers sooner than you think.

2022 Traffic Fatalities

There was a marginal decrease in traffic fatalities during 2022 in the U.S. compared to the prior year based on the latest estimated projections by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). NHTSA estimates that 27 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are projected to have had decreases in fatalities in 2022 as compared to 2021. Oregon was one of 23 states seeing an increase in fatalities during 2022.