In this issue:

• Beware of Toll Scams
• Ride to Work Day is Tuesday, June 10, 2025
• NHTSA's Resources to Prevent Impaired Driving in Rural Areas
• Oregon Health Authority's Injury Data Dashboards
• Oregon Impact Toolbox
• 100 Safest Days of Summer and Free Healing Ebook
• Upcoming Events

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Beware of Toll Scams

June 10th is Ride To Work Day—a non-official special day of the year (you won’t find it on calendars) where motorcyclists are encouraged to take their bikes to work. This event is promoted by the Ride To Work non-profit foundation. Shifting the commuting population to motorcycling would solve problems.

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First, and most noticeably, it will solve the problem of traffic congestion. In 2012, a study in the city of Brussels found that if only 10 percent of the passenger cars in the test area were replaced by motorcycles, all the vehicles in that test area had their time loss due to congestion reduced by 40 percent. If 25 percent of cars are replaced by motorcycles, traffic congestion in that area can be completely eliminated.

That can be a huge benefit to Oregon metropolitan areas. Driven in Portland recently? Or the I-5 corridor? The one constant problem that we see everywhere is traffic, traffic, traffic. That Belgian study from 2012 doesn’t offer a surefire formula for reducing congestion, but it shows the principle, at least—switching car drivers to motorcycles reduces the load on our roadways. Sure, that may not work for you during the months of October through April, probably—but improved traffic May through September is a great goal to aim for, right?

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Second, shifting car drivers to motorcycles can reduce local and non-local pollution. That same 2012 Belgian study finds that a reduction in tailpipe emissions accompanies the improved traffic flow. Some of the reduced pollution comes from the fact that many motorcycles are more efficient than cars; the other reduction comes from the fact that all traffic moved smoothly, so all traffic burned less fuel.

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Third, motorcycles solve a problem of affordability. There are bikes that cost more than cars, but as families are cash-strapped, a budget-oriented scooter is making more and more sense as, at least, a secondary vehicle.

Perhaps, Canada and the US can build affordable small-bore motorcycles. But if that doesn't happen, they can be built in Mexico, i.e., that’s where the Honda XR150L is built.

Rider training must also be a big part of any organized promotion of motorcycle commuting. This is doable! we have schools with teachers that specialize in cheerleading and football. These are all well and good, but if we have the resources to show them how to play sports, surely we have the resources to teach them how to ride motorized two-wheelers and also how to maintain them.

Ride To Work non-profit foundation

NHTSA's Resources to Prevent Impaired Driving in Rural Areas

Recently, NHTSA released a new report, Resources to Prevent Impaired Driving in Rural Areas. While only 19 percent of the United States population lives in rural areas, 43 percent of traffic fatalities occur on rural roadways, while impaired driving accounts for many of these deaths.



This report highlights promising practices used in rural areas to prevent impaired driving. Its purpose is to provide information and tools to a diverse group of stakeholders, enabling them to identify and customize strategies that are appropriate for their communities.

NHTSA Resources

Oregon Health Authority's

Injury Data Dashboards

The Public Health Division's Injury and Violence Prevention Program examines sources of data that describe injury problems among Oregonians to identify prevention strategies, plan interventions and evaluate outcomes.

They maintain an injury data information system and focus on the identification and prevention of morbidity and mortality due to injury among Oregonians. 

Basically, our partners at OHA developed a dashboard for a number of injury types, and when asked, they obliged with a transportation death and injury dashboard using their data, which is a broader information set than the ODOT crash data set. 

For example, the OHA data includes pedestrian-only data, bike-only data, and bike-versus-pedestrian data, to name a few instances where the datasets differ.

Walter McAllister, ODOT, asked for the page, and provided input for improvements to make the information more useful to those who may want to work on safety issues – and the ever-important school papers.

This dashboard provides a lot of ask and answer resources for Oregon staff!

What’s nice about this dashboard set is it allows Oregonians and others to compare injury causes and see some demographics about who is injured.

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.



Let’s Make this the

100 Safest Days of Summer

According to the National Road Safety Foundation

“The 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day, are referred to as the 100 deadliest days, are nationally known as the most dangerous time for teen drivers. Studies by AAA indicate a sharp increase in fatal crashes with teen drivers behind the wheel. According to the CDC, teen drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal car crash during this period.”

“That’s why the National Road Safety Foundation has teamed up with other safety and youth-based organizations to make this the 100 Safest Days of Summer and to stop these preventable crashes from happening.”



In an effort to support healing and safety during this crucial time, Janelle Marie of Oregon Impact is offering her book Healing Behind the Wheel: Navigating Trauma-Informed Traffic, a FREE download on Kindle May 29-June 2, 2025. Use this link amazon.com/dp/B0DS6MD76N to download your copy today!

Upcoming Events

• July: Speeding Catches Up With You
• August: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
• September: Child Passenger Safety Week
• October: Pedestrian Safety Month

Drive Sober, Safe, and Happy!

from your

Friends at Oregon Impact