On February 9, millions of people will tune in to watch the Super Bowl. Many will celebrate by heading to a party or watching with friends. Keep yourself and others safe by having game plan:

• Designate a sober driver before the game begins.
• Try rideshare, public transit, or carpooling.
• Hosting a party? Prepare plenty of snacks and nonalcoholic drinks for your guests and the designated drivers.

Remember: Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.

Winter Walk (or Bike) to School Day is coming up on February 5. With the right preparation, walking or biking to school in the winter can be fun and enjoyable! A little bit of exercise can:

• Improve children’s focus and learning,
• Provide daily exercise,
• Give kids time to have fun with friends, and
• Reduce air pollution and traffic congestion around schools.

Dress for winter weather – wear layers, scarves, rain gear, and reflective clothing to stay warm, dry, and visible.

Winter weather can make driving challenging, and snowplows are out working to keep roads safe. When you see winter maintenance equipment:

• Always pay close attention.
• Never pass snowplows on the right - it's dangerous and could lead to a crash.

Stay safe and give snowplows plenty of space to do their job.

ODOT is now accepting grant applications for Fiscal Year 2026. If your community agency or organization has ideas to improve traffic safety and reduce fatalities, now’s your chance to secure funding to make a difference.

Grant focus areas include:

• Aggressive Driving
• Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety
• Child Passenger Safety
• Community Traffic Safety
• Distracted Driving
• Driver Education
• Impaired Driving
• Motorcycle Safety
• Seat Belt Use
• Youth Safety Education

Find the online application and instructions here. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. PST on March 31.

Did you know Oregon law requires you to signal your turn or lane change in advance?

Turn signals let other drivers know your intentions. You must signal before you:

• make a turn,
• change lanes,
• exit a roundabout, or
• pull away from a curb.

Before making such moves, check traffic ahead, behind, and to the side to make sure it's safe.

Here's what the law says:

• If your vehicle is moving, signal at least 100 feet before a turn or lane change.
• If you're parked and reentering traffic, signal long enough to alert traffic that you're moving into the lane.

Failure to use your blinker to signal is a Class D traffic violation (ORS 811.335).

ODOT’s Safe Routes to School program creates safe, convenient, and fun opportunities for children to walk, bike, and roll to and from school. The program invests in pedestrian crossings, sidewalks, bike lanes, and more. It also funds education and outreach to students to walk and roll to school safely. 

The Oregon Transportation Commission recently approved 28 Safe Routes to School projects, with a total investment exceeding $31 million. These projects focus on making travel safer within a two-mile radius of schools. They focus on under-resourced communities, ensuring a safer journey for all students.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced the award of $171 million in grants to 19 states and territories to upgrade crash data collection systems – including Oregon. These system upgrades will improve accuracy, timeliness, and accessibility of traffic crash data, including information about pedestrians and cyclists. Better data helps inform decisions that can reduce serious injuries and save lives on the roads.

Your voice matters! Take a moment to participate in our quick survey and share your insights. Your feedback plays a vital role in shaping safety improvements in your community and across Oregon.

Together, we can make Oregon’s roadways safer for everyone.

Take the Survey Now