The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reports this winter a higher than usual number of deer and other wildlife on or near roadways as they move further down away from heavy mountain snow and into valley areas in search of food. Animals foraging for food tend to follow the easiest path that will use…
2015 was a disturbing year for traffic casualties, with the number of traffic deaths shooting up more than they ever have in the past 50 years nationwide. Oregon got hit the hardest, seeing a brutal 27% increase in overall traffic deaths since 2014. Of all fifty states, Oregon’s was the largest percent increase, and was…
If you are an avid cyclist in Portland, you are probably aware of the many traffic laws you have to obey to get along on our congested streets. While most of the same rules apply to both cyclists and motor vehicles to keep everyone safe, cyclists are always in greater danger of getting hurt when…
Speeding is one of the leading causes of car wrecks because most drivers cannot control a vehicle that is moving at a high rate of speed. In 1974, President Richard Nixon signed the Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act, which included the National Maximum Speed Law (NMSL) that set the national speed limit at 55 mph. Following the enactment…
As vehicles become more autonomous, we are already seeing cars equipped with headlights that automatically adjust to a car’s position to keep lights on the road ahead and not in the eyes of other drivers. Adaptive headlights react to the steering, speed and elevation of the car, and automatically adjust to give the driver a…
While planes will be grounded or restricted from flying into fogged in airports, motorists venture out onto roads with restricted visibility due to fog, snow, smoke, or dust particles in the air. Fog lights present on most vehicles, when properly installed both front and rear, safely illuminate the road ahead in these conditions and make…
Year after year, motorcycles have a higher rate of fatal accidents than automobiles or trucks and buses. Because rider judgment and skill are critical in avoiding motorcycle accidents and fatalities, the Team Oregon Motorcycle Safety Program (Team Oregon) continues to train over 8000 Oregon cyclists a year in safe riding procedures. Team Oregon Partners with ODOT and Oregon State…
The finale of 2016 brought Portland some heavy bouts of snow that led to several traffic accidents throughout the city. While it’s advised to stay indoors as much as possible when road conditions are snowy, driving in thick snow may be unavoidable if you’re looking to partake in winter sports like skiing and snowboarding. There…
Traditionally, if you were visiting Oregon from a northern state having never driven in a Portland winter, you would have been shocked to discover that the city took a firm stand against using rock salt on roads, especially while making the transition from neighboring California, Idaho, or Nevada. While salt is widely used throughout the…
Winter without snow just doesn’t seem right to those who aren’t familiar with the very real disruptions a white winter causes. Tourists who have never seen snow before don’t know about icy roads, freezing rain, and staying indoors for days on end. Just one good snow storm can be enough to keep an entire town locked up…