April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month
Distracted driving is a dangerous behavior for drivers, passengers, and non-occupants alike. Distraction is a specific type of that occurs when drivers divert their attention from the driving task to focus on some other activity instead (per NHTSA).
More useful information can be found by visiting the links below:
Rules of the Road - Headlights
Now that Oregon is seeing more wintery weather, please remember this important driving tip: The automatic headlight control in vehicles detects brightness outside the vehicle with an Illuminance sensor which activates when light picked up by the sensor drops below a certain level. This does not activate in inclement weather such as snow, rain, or fog, so please use your headlights manually for safety while driving in winter weather conditions. In addition, daytime running lights (DRL) on most new vehicles may activate the headlights in the front but leave the taillights off in the rear of the vehicle. This can lead to many people driving at night or in inclement weather with the headlights on, but forgetting the rear lighting is not on. If in doubt, turn your headlights on with the manual setting not the "Auto" setting.
Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time.
In 2021, 26,325 passenger vehicle occupants were killed throughout the year in the U.S. About 50% of those killed were not buckled. So please, whether you’re driving out of town or across town: Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time.
Pedestrian Safety
The personal, physical, and environmental benefits of walking and rolling on other devices can lead to healthier, quieter, cleaner, and safer streets. Walking can also improve local economies and enhance social and community engagement, which can lead to more vibrant, resilient, and livable spaces. Unfortunately, nationally 2021 there were 7,388 pedestrians killed in traffic crashes, a 12.5% increase from the 6,565 pedestrian fatalities in 2020. This is the highest since 1981 when 7,837 pedestrians died in traffic crashes. On average, a pedestrian was killed every 71 minutes and injured every 9 minutes in traffic crashes in 2021.