October is National Pedestrian Safety Month, highlighting the shared responsibility to keep people safe when walking or rolling in communities. It is a call to action — to walk safely, drive responsibly, and design streets that protect all road users. 

In Oregon, the 2024 statistics show there were 97 pedestrian fatalities (which was 18% of all traffic fatalities) and 752 injuries. That is why ODOT, in partnership with NHTSA continues to raise awareness with high visibility media campaigns and social media messages to emphasize the importance of looking out for each other.

For more information, visit the NHTSA Pedestrian Safety webpage.

Walk+Roll to School Day is a global event on Oct 7. It began in 1997 as a one-day event, and over time, it has become part of a movement for year-round safe routes to school. The event includes communities from more than 40 countries walking and rolling to school on the same day to encourage kids to get some healthy movement and fresh air.

Visit the following webpages for more information about Walk+Roll events in Oregon:
Oregon Safe Routes to School
Commute Options
 

White Cane Safety Day will be observed on Oct 15. This event recognizes the remarkable achievements and independence of the visually impaired. It’s also a good reminder for every day— always look out for pedestrians with white canes and be patient so they can get home safely.

Oregon law states you must give the right of way to a pedestrian with limited vision or any pedestrian who is blind or deaf and blind carrying a white cane or using a guide dog. Stop if the person is about to cross or is crossing the road. Remain stopped until the person has crossed the entire road, even if you have a green light.

For more information, visit the National Federation of the Blind webpage.

Teen Driver Safety Week will be observed Oct 18-24 and is a good opportunity to increase safety awareness across all platforms.

Your teen looks up to you more than you think. Make safe choices while you’re driving and set a good example for them when you’re behind the wheel—avoid driving distracted, and drive the speed limit, drive sober, and always wear a seat belt.

Verify that your teen knows and understands the rules before handing over the keys. A good way to ensure they are ready is to enroll them in a ODOT-approved driver education course.

For a list of driver education providers and information about teen driving in Oregon, visit the following webpages:

Transportation Safety Office Resources for Parents and Teens
Oregon DMV Teen Drivers

Governor's Advisory Committee on DUII, Oct 2, 9 a.m. 

Oregon Transportation Safety Committee, Oct 9, 9:30 a.m. 

Meetings are open to everyone

Accommodation will be provided for people with disabilities, and materials can be provided in alternate formats. To request an accommodation, please visit the public meetings website and sort by meeting name to find the contact information for your particular meeting. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can call statewide relay at 711.