In this issue:

• National Passenger Safety Week
• Portland’s Snowplow Naming Contest returns! 
• Pedestrian Safety Survey Story
• Get Your Car Ready for Winter
• Oregon Impact Toolbox: Tools You Can Use 
• Upcoming Events

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National Passenger Safety Week

What the Statistics Show

40,901

• The number of motor-vehicle traffic fatalities in the U.S. in 2023 according to NHTSA.  
• Of those fatalities, “passenger vehicle occupants” (i.e., occupants of passenger cars, light trucks/­SUVs, vans, minivans) numbered 24,238 in 2023. 
• That means passenger-vehicle occupants accounted for roughly 59% of all traffic fatalities in 2023.

62%

• The most recent statistic from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding teenage passenger deaths riding with teen drivers.
• In 2023, among the 604 fatalities of passengers of teen drivers (ages 15-18), 377 (≈ 62 %) were other teens riding with another teen driver. 

24%

• According to NHTSA’s most recent data (2023): 24% of passenger-vehicle occupant fatalities were passengers.
• NHTSA reports 23,959 passenger-vehicle occupants killed in 2023; 18,101 of those were drivers and the remainder (about 5,858) were passengers which equals ~24%.

23,959

• Occupants of passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs, vans, pickups) were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2023. 
• In 2023, nearly 50% of those passenger-vehicle occupants killed were unrestrained (i.e., not wearing a seat-belt) among those for whom seat-belt use was known.

❄️Portland’s Snowplow Naming Contest returns!❄️

The Portland Bureau of Transportation has 56 snowplows. For the second year in a row the bureau asks Portlanders to submit names for five more snowplow names! 

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and Portland City Elections invites the public to submit creative names for five more snowplows in the city's second annual snowplow naming contest. Last year, for the first ever contest, PBOT received name submissions from over 4,000 people. Then, 16,000 Portlanders voted on their top five favorite names (out of twenty) using ranked-choice voting.  

PBOT has 56 snowplows. After welcoming Beverly Clear-y, Salt & Thaw, Brrrnside, Plowy McPlowface, and The Big Snowplowski, there are 51 left to name! This year, with the help of the public, the PBOT will name five more. 

❄️ How the Contest Works

Today, PBOT opened the contest form. Everyone is invited to dream up their punniest, most creative, Portland-y, Pacific Northwest-proud names they can think of. You’ll be prompted to provide your name, contact information, and your suggestion for a snowplow name. Have more than one idea? Feel free to submit multiple entries!  

❄️ Contest Guidelines and Timeline 

When you submit a name, you agree to the City of Portland using your entry in a public and official capacity. 

We will not accept names with inappropriate language, swear words, or slurs. Find more guidelines for the contest on our website.

After submitting your snowplow name(s), come back on Jan. 12 to vote on the top 20 using ranked-choice voting. The top five snowplow names will be chosen as winners and announced in February. 

❄️Dec. 18 – Jan. 5: The public submits snowplow name ideas (form closes at 5 p.m., Jan. 5, 2026). 


❄️Jan. 6 - 9: PBOT staff select the top 20 snowplow names. 


❄️Jan. 12 - Jan. 21: Portlanders use ranked-choice voting to vote on their favorite names. Visit the 2025-26 contest page on Jan. 12 to vote. Voting ends at 5 p.m., Jan. 21. 


❄️Week of Feb. 2: Top five snowplow names are announced determined by multi-winner ranked-choice voting. 

Learn More About:
Portland City Elections 

Housed in the Portland City Auditor’s Office, the Elections Division is responsible for city candidates and Portland voters. Make sure you are ready for our next ranked-choice election by going to www.portland.gov/vote. 

Learn More About:

PBOT and Prepare Now for Winter Weather this Season 

Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is the lead agency for the city's winter weather response. Now’s the time to prepare for severe weather. View preparedness tips and resources at Portland.gov/winter.

Tips include: 

• Create an emergency plan for winter weather with friends, family, and coworkers. 
• Put together an emergency bag for your vehicle stocked with items like water, food, traction for your tires and feet, and a flashlight. 
• Prepare an emergency kit for your home and business. 
• Stock up on supplies like ice melt and a snow shovel sooner rather than later. 
• Stay informed with severe weather information by signing up for PBOT alerts via text or email. Follow @PBOTInfo on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, X, and Nextdoor. 
• Visit PBOT’s Guide to the Winter Weather Center to learn how to track the latest weather, traffic, road closure, and snowplow information. 
• Get to know your nearby transit stops. Plan your route at TriMet.org or call 503-238-7433 for bus and MAX. Portland Streetcar schedules and information here. For service to OHSU's Marquam Hill campus, check Portland Aerial Tram for information on capacity and hours during severe weather. 

Pedestrian Safety Survey Story

❄️Oregon Law Enforcement Focus on Pedestrian Safety❄️

The last decade has been a difficult time to be a pedestrian. The most recent statistics show that 7,314 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes nationwide in 2023. While this was a nearly 4 percent decrease from 2022, it was still a massive increase from 2014, when 4,910 pedestrians were killed in crashes.

Oregon’s law enforcement agencies are making a renewed effort to increase enforcement of pedestrian safety laws and save lives. Oregon Impact worked with the ODOT Transportation Safety Office during the 2024-25 grant year to discover the goals of their partner law enforcement agencies in running pedestrian safety operations, and how they can be most successful in achieving those goals.

The key element of this effort was an online survey, which was open to law enforcement agencies and others. These were the key findings:

• There were a total of 40 responses to the survey, with 37 different law enforcement agencies represented. Thirty percent of respondents were grant participants.
• Staffing and related issues remain the biggest challenge when it comes to planning and operating a “traditional” PSE event.
• Community support is a major factor in running a successful mission, as is organization and location setup.
• Agencies that can run missions successfully cite staffing levels, as well as experience, as the major factors in their success.
• A majority of respondents believe their communities need this type of enforcement.
• Staffing and other resources are the biggest barriers to participating in the grant.
• There is significant interest in using grant funds for education and community outreach events, for example information tables at community events or participation in events such as a bike rodeo; however, staffing remains a serious issue (many agencies reported not having the staff available to cover informational events either).
• More literature to share, kids’ PPE, and more training on present and emerging laws were cited as examples of additional resources that would be very helpful.
• Most agencies (85%) feel they understand the relevant laws at least to some extent.
• Video and digital training and toolkits, especially video training that is short and focused, were cited as examples of things that we could provide to agencies that would be helpful in carrying out PSE missions.

In addition to the survey, Oregon Impact spoke directly with representatives of at least three law enforcement agencies who have been very successful in recent years in running pedestrian safety operations.

They shared knowledge of how locations for pedestrian safety operations are chosen, how to facilitate multi-agency participation in operations, and their plans for future events.

One of the most often stated goals of enforcement operations is community education and engagement. In this respect, the operations were largely successful, with agencies describing many opportunities to address locations that have been reported as troublesome, engaging with and educating members of the community, and receiving support from the public in return.

❄️Get Your Car Ready for Winter❄️

Driving in the winter can be harrowing, especially in snowstorms and icy conditions. By getting your car ready for winter and using some simple tips to drive safely, you can face almost any weather Mother Nature decides to send your way.

❄️ A Few Precautions will Prevent Winter Breakdowns

In addition to annual maintenance, here are some tips to winterize your car:


① Test your battery; battery power drops as the temperature drops.


② Make sure the cooling system is in good working order.


③ Use winter tires with a deeper, more flexible tread put on your car.

④ If using all-season tires, check the tread and replace if less than 2/32 of an inch.

⑤ Check the tire pressure, which drops as the temperature drops.

⑥ Check your wiper blades and replace if needed.

⑦ Add wiper fluid rated for -30 degrees Fahrenheit.

⑧ Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze.

❄️ Before You Start Out

① Clean your car's external camera lenses and side mirrors.

② Remove dirt, ice and snow from sensors to allow the assistive-driving features, like automatic emergency braking, to work.

③ In frigid weather, you may want to warm up the car before you drive.

④ To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, never leave a vehicle running in your garage – even with the garage door up.

⑤ If the forecast looks iffy, wait out the storm; if you must travel, share your travel plans and route with someone before you leave

❄️ How to Avoid a Crash

AAA offers the following driving tips:


① Avoid using cruise control in wintry conditions.

② Steer in the direction of a skid, so when your wheels regain traction, you don’t have to overcorrect to stay in your lane.

③ Accelerate and decelerate slowly.

④ Increase following distance to 8 to 10 seconds.

⑤ If possible, don't stop when going uphill.


If visibility is severely limited due to a whiteout, pull off the road to a safe place and do not drive until conditions improve. Avoid pulling off onto the shoulder unless it is an absolute emergency. Limited visibility means other vehicles can’t see yours on the shoulder.

❄️ Know Your Car's Capabilities

My Car Does What? is a national campaign to help educate drivers about the safety features built into vehicles. Search for your car and find out what safety features are already built in.

Traction control is now standard on most new vehicles. This function helps your vehicle gain traction on snowy, icy or wet surfaces, particularly when accelerating from a stopped or slowed position, or when trying to make it up a slippery hill.

Anti-lock braking system (ABS) helps you steer in emergencies by restoring traction to your tires and is standard on most new vehicles. ABS may vibrate or pulse when engaged. This is normal. Continue to press and hold pressure to the brake pedal.

Remember, you are your car's best safety feature. Take precautions to ensure you arrive safely at your destination. If you become stranded in an unfamiliar area, do not leave your car. Light flares in front and behind the car and make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked by snow, mud or objects.

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:

• 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

• February: Super Bowl | Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk
• March: Vehicle Safety Recalls Week
• March: St. Patrick's Day | Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving
• April: National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Drive Sober, Safe, and Happy!

from your

Friends at Oregon Impact