In this issue:

• Beware of Toll Scams
• Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
• Vehicular Heatstroke Prevention
• Traffic Safety Office public opinion survey
• Oregon Impact Toolbox: Tools You Can Use 
• Upcoming Events

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Beware of Toll Scams

Drive Sober This Labor Day, and Every Day

During the Labor Day holiday period, we typically see an increase in drunk-driving deaths — and that's why you'll likely see more law enforcement on the roads. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, which runs from August 14-September 2, aims to educate people about the dangers and consequences of driving drunk.

Have a Plan Whether You're Driving, Riding or Hosting

• Before drinking, plan a safe and sober ride home.
• Don’t let someone get behind the wheel if they've been drinking.
• If you’re hosting a gathering, make sure all your guests have a sober ride home.

If you see an impaired driver, call 911. And always wear your seat belt — it’s your best defense against impaired drivers.

If You Feel Different, You Drive Different — Drive High — Get a DUI

Did you know that you can also get a DUI for driving under the influence of drugs? Driving while impaired by any substance — legal or illegal — puts you and others in harm’s way. You can’t drive safely if you’re impaired.

That’s why it’s illegal everywhere in America to drive under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, opioids, methamphetamines, or any potentially impairing drug–prescribed or over the counter. Driving while impaired by any substance — legal or illegal — puts you and others in harm’s way. 

Learn the latest research on drug-impaired driving, misconceptions about marijuana use, and what you can do to make smarter choices to drive safely.

Vehicular Heatstroke Prevention

Heatstroke Prevention

Join the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the Once You Park, Stop, Look, Lock heatstroke prevention campaign. NHTSA’s goal is to educate parents and caregivers about critical information regarding pediatric vehicular heatstroke. NHTSA, safety advocates, and academic institutions urge parents and caregivers to learn about the deadly consequences of leaving children in cars.

Every death is preventable.

1. Hot car deaths are the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children 14 and younger.
2. As temperatures start to rise across the country, it is essential for parents and caregivers everywhere to remember: Stop. Look. Lock.
3. Before leaving a vehicle, stop, look for a child, and lock the car doors. It only takes a second.
4. Since 1998, when safety advocates first began tracking, hot car deaths have killed more than 1,000 children. Each death was preventable.
5. On average, 37 children die per year due to vehicular heatstroke. The biggest risk factor in these cases is a change in routine.
6. The three main scenarios in which heatstroke occurs are:

• Children are forgotten in vehicles by parents or caregivers.
• Children gain access to unlocked vehicles and become trapped inside.
• Children are knowingly left in vehicles by parents or caregivers.

It is critical that all parents, caregivers, and drivers understand that children should never be left alone in a vehicle, not even for a minute.



How this happens:

• The primary way a child dies from heatstroke is from a parent or caregiver “forgetting” their child in a vehicle. There are many factors at play, but a common one is a change in routine. Every family experiences a change in routine at some point, so every parent or caregiver is susceptible to this mistake.
• This “forgotten” circumstance accounts for more than half of the total child hot car deaths that have occurred since 1998. In approximately half of these “forgotten” deaths, specifically, the child was on their way to childcare or preschool. A busy parent or caregiver may unintentionally forget that a quiet or sleeping child is in the back of the vehicle. This most often occurs with children under one year of age. Always remember: Once You Park, Stop, Look, Lock. These actions could save a life.
• Toddlers and young children are also at risk, as they can climb into a vehicle without supervision. Children may be playing or hiding, but if they enter a vehicle without the knowledge of an adult, they may be unable to get out of the car, especially if child locks are activated. It is essential to teach children that cars are not a place to play. Parents and caregivers should get into the habit of storing keys and fobs out of a child’s reach.
• Sometimes, children are left intentionally by parents or caregivers who do not understand the dangers of a hot vehicle and may have a quick errand to run, or who may not understand how quickly a vehicle can heat up to deadly temperatures. It cannot be overstated: Never leave a child in a vehicle alone, not even for a minute.
• The day of the week may have an influence on children who have been forgotten in a vehicle, or who have gained access: “Forgotten” deaths are most likely to occur on Thursdays and Fridays, while deaths in which a child has unknowingly climbed into a vehicle typically occur on weekends, with Sunday being the most at-risk day.
• By the end of 2024, Texas and Florida had the highest number of child heatstroke deaths. Additional states at the highest risk for heatstroke deaths per capita are Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

High body temperature can cause permanent injury or even death:

• Heatstroke begins when the core body temperature reaches approximately 104 degrees and the thermoregulatory system is overwhelmed. A core temperature of approximately 107 degrees is lethal.
• Children are more sensitive to heat than adults.
• Children are at a higher risk than adults of dying from heatstroke in a hot vehicle because their body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s.
• The children most at-risk for heatstroke are those under 1 year, yet they make up one-third of hot car deaths.
• In 10 minutes, a car can heat up by as much as 20 degrees. Rolling down a window does little to keep a vehicle cool, even on a cooler day.
• Heatstroke fatalities have occurred even in vehicles parked in shaded areas and when the outside air temperatures were 80 degrees Fahrenheit or less.
• Summertime is the peak season for these tragic incidents, with children dying at an average rate of two per week. Unfortunately, hot car deaths can even occur in outdoor temperatures as low as 57 degrees.
• The warning signs of heatstroke vary, but may include:
• Red, hot, and moist or dry skin
• Absent sweating, even though the child is warm
• Strong rapid pulse or a slow weak pulse
• Throbbing headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Grouchiness or strange behavior

These tips could save a child’s life:

• NEVER leave a child in a vehicle unattended, not even for a minute.
• Make it a habit to check your entire vehicle, especially the back seat, EVERY time you exit the car.
• Always lock your car when you aren’t using it, and put the keys out of reach. Even if you don’t have a child of your own, a child in your neighborhood could get into your unlocked vehicle.
• Keep an item in the back seat, like a toy. Put the toy up front with you when your child is in the car seat to serve as a reminder. Or, put your purse or work bag in the back seat with the child.  
• If you see a child in distress in a vehicle, act. Call 911 immediately and get help.

For more information, visit NHTSA.gov/Heatstroke.

Help make Oregon's roads safer.

We need your voice.

Have you ever seen someone speed through a school zone? Text behind the wheel? Drift into another lane while driving impaired or distracted? Maybe you’ve had a close call as a pedestrian or bicyclist.

The Oregon Department of Transportation’s Traffic Safety Office is working to change dangerous driving behaviors like these and we need your help.

Right now, we’re asking people in Oregon to take a short, anonymous survey about their experiences and attitudes related to transportation safety. Your voice will help shape future safety campaigns, education efforts, and investments that save lives and prevent serious injuries.

• Take the public opinion survey: survey.alchemer.com/s3/8164697/eeea02052ce2
• Open through Aug. 3, 2025.

Whether you drive, bike, walk, or roll — your perspective matters. Let’s work together to make Oregon’s roads safer for everyone.

ODOT wants to hear what’s working — and what’s not — when it comes to transportation safety.

Your voice will help shape the 2026 Transportation Safety Action Plan, which guides decisions and investments to reduce crashes and eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries on Oregon roads.

We want to hear from professionals who plan, manage or influence transportation systems in Oregon. If you work in transportation planning, engineering, enforcement, advocacy or policy — especially in a government agency or public-sector organization — your insights can help guide statewide strategies to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes.

Tell ODOT what you think via this online survey by August 31, 2025. https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8358182/8421500b267c



Your input can help ODOT and local transportation agencies create a system where everyone can travel safely, whether they walk, roll, bike, drive or take public transportation.

More information is available on the Transportation Safety Action Plan webpage, https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Safety/Pages/TSAP.aspx.

You can also sign up for the project’s email newsletter to stay informed.

Email questions and comments to safety@odot.oregon.gov.

Oregon Impact Toolbox:

Tools You Can Use

Oregon Impact has a variety of impairment goggles, often referred to as "drunk goggles" — powerful tools designed to simulate the effects of various impairments, such as alcohol or drug intoxication or drowsiness, by distorting vision, balance, and perception, these goggles offer a safe and eye-opening way to understand the challenges and risks associated with impaired functioning.

Here are some easy ways to use them in your community:

1. Educational Campaigns

Impairment goggles are widely used in schools, community events, and workplaces to raise awareness about the dangers of driving under the influence. By attempting to perform simple tasks while wearing the goggles, participants gain insight into the risks associated with impairment.

2. Workplace Safety Programs

Industries that rely on heavy machinery or driving use these goggles to stress the importance of being sober and alert on the job.

3. Common activities with impairment goggles include:

• Walking a straight line
• Catching or tossing a ball
• Navigating an obstacle course
• Driving simulators to illustrate the risks of impaired driving

These hands-on experiences often leave a lasting impression, reinforcing the importance of staying sober and focused in critical situations.

The Bottom Line

Impairment goggles are more than just a learning tool; they are a conversation starter. By giving people a glimpse into what it feels like to be impaired, they inspire individuals to think twice about their actions and the consequences. Whether it’s for educational programs or professional training, impairment goggles are an innovative way to promote safety and awareness in our communities.

All our goggles are available for your use at no charge. Please reach out to Anna at anna@oregonimpact.org for reservations.

Remember: The safest choice is to always stay clear-headed, whether on the road or in daily life.



Upcoming Events

• September: Child Passenger Safety Week
• October: Pedestrian Safety Month
• November: Fall Check, Vehicle Safety Recalls

Drive Sober, Safe, and Happy!

from your

Friends at Oregon Impact