In this issue:

• Beware of Toll Scams
• Speeding Catches Up With You
• DMV Collision Report webpage
• Oregon Health Authority's Injury Data Dashboards
• Oregon Impact Toolbox
• Milwaukie Fest Booth
• Upcoming Events

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Beware of Toll Scams

Every year, thousands of people are injured or killed in speeding-related crashes across America. In 2023, there were 11,775 fatalities that involved speeding, accounting for 29% of that year’s traffic fatalities. That number represented a 3% drop from 2022, in which 12,157 speeding-related fatalities occurred.

Speeders don’t just put themselves in danger of serious injuries and death, they put other road users, including passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists, at risk as well.

Drivers have a shared responsibility to keep themselves and all road users safe. Obeying the legal speed limits and driving at a speed that is reasonable for road conditions is part of fulfilling that responsibility.

Speed limits are put in place to reduce crashes and minimize a crash’s impact on the human body. Set through an engineering process, speed limits are no less important than the vehicle safety technology developed over the last decades.

Those who speed choose to do so for different reasons, including lateness and traffic. Regardless, driving above the speed limit or too fast for road conditions is an active disregard for one’s safety, the safety of others, and the law.

Like impaired driving, speeding is a selfish choice that can have deadly consequences. It reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a hazardous object, or an unexpected curve.

Local law enforcement will join this campaign by providing high-visibility patrol and issuing speeding citations to drivers breaking the law.

Communities across America are affected every year by fatalities that occur in speeding-related crashes. In 2023, there were 11,775 traffic fatalities that involved speeding, accounting for 29% of that year’s traffic fatalities. That number of fatalities represented a 3% drop from 2022, in which 12,157 speeding-related fatalities occurred.

Young drivers and motorcyclists have a higher chance of being involved in speeding-related crashes. In 2023, 37% of male drivers and 18% of female drivers in the 15- to 20-year-old age group involved in fatal traffic crashes were speeding. Thirty-six percent of all motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes in 2023 were speeding. Motorcycle riders 21 to 24 years old involved in fatal crashes had the highest rate of speeding involvement at 51%.

Speed limits are set to keep all road users safe. They minimize the likelihood of crashes and the force of a crash’s impact on a person’s body, which dramatically increases with each additional 10 miles per hour of speed. When a driver or motorcyclist drives above the speed limit, they are acting with no regard for their life, the lives of others on the road, and the law. That remains true regardless of the reason a person chooses to drive over the speed limit.

Speeding is an aggressive and deadly behavior. It reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a hazardous object, or an unexpected curve.

According to NHTSA, local roads are more dangerous than highways for speeders. It's a common misconception that speeding is an interstate-related issue: In fact, in 2023, 88% of all speeding-related traffic fatalities in the United States occurred on routes other than interstates.

Drivers should be especially aware of this campaign and their speed. Local roads are where most of our speeding-related crashes occur. Police will be concentrating our efforts in these areas.

We are calling on everyone to show regard for all road users’ lives and safety, including their own, by following the speed limits everywhere and all the time. Posted speed limits are the law. When everyone abides by them, they are fulfilling their responsibility of helping prevent life-altering injuries and fatalities.

We’re putting all drivers on alert — follow the law.

Oregon DMV Announces

New Option to Report Collisions.

Getting into a collision can be stressful, sometimes scary. Fortunately, reporting the collision to Oregon DMV just got easier. Drivers involved in a collision can now complete and submit the report to DMV using our new online service. All you need is an internet connection and the ability to log onto DMV2U.oregon.gov.

Get the details on the DMV Collision Report webpage.

"DMV is focusing on more self-service options,” said DMV Administrator Amy Joyce. “The new online option for the Oregon Traffic Collision and Insurance Report is part of DMV’s expanding menu of online services that are available 24/7 at DMV2U. The online collision report saves customers time since they no longer need to submit the form by mail, fax or at a DMV office. Customers can save and return to the report later, it will be available for 30 days. This latest effort aimed at improving the DMV experience for our customers is another mechanism to provide customers with a self-service option."

By law, you must file a collision report (formerly called an accident report) with Oregon DMV within 72 hours of a motor vehicle collision when any of the following are true:

• Injury or death resulted from the collision.
• Damage to your vehicle is over $2,500.
• Damage to anyone’s property other than a vehicle involved in the collision is over $2,500.
• Damage to any vehicle is over $2,500 and any vehicle is towed from the scene.

ODOT’s Crash Analysis & Reporting Unit recorded 46,762 reportable crashes on all roads in Oregon in 2023. Oregon DMV staff annually process about 200,000 Oregon Traffic Collision and Insurance Reports. 

The online collision report will vastly improve the collection of collision data, which other ODOT divisions use to plan and build safety projects, and which DMV’s Transportation Safety office uses to distribute federal grant money and other resources to improve driver behavior.

The collision report on DMV2U can be filled out using smartphones and other devices, and you will immediately receive a confirmation email and reference number. We strongly recommend you download a copy or print the report you submit.

The online collision report meets ADA requirements and saves you time since you no longer need to submit the form by mail, fax or at a DMV office.

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.

What's more, 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.



Upcoming Events

• 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