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Updated statewide safety plan supports "zero fatalities"
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| ODOT News |
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Oregon ranks among the top states in seat belt use.
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Imagine a future where days, weeks and months pass without a single fatal crash on Oregon’s highways. That’s exactly what the new Oregon Transportation Safety Action Plan (pdf) envisions, with a stack of vetted recommendations and pro-active strategies to help make the dream come true.
Recently approved by the Oregon Transportation Commission, the Oregon Transportation Safety Action Plan is the result of two years’ review, updating, gathering input, revising — and updating some more. The renewed plan involved thousands of hours of work, led by the five-member volunteer Oregon Transportation Safety Committee and supported by safety advocates around the state.
“We heard from citizens, advocates, local fire departments, police officers and state troopers,” OTSC member Victor Hoffer said. “Their input helped form the foundation for an action plan that can help us achieve our vision.”
The plan’s approval comes on the heels of a banner year for traffic safety in Oregon. In 2010, Oregon experienced the lowest number of fatalities since the 1940s, at 317 – a 15 percent decrease from 2009. Preliminary numbers for 2011 indicate another low fatality year, at 319. Still, deaths and injuries from crashes are tragic, costly and in many cases, unnecessary (more than 95 percent of all crashes in 2010 involved driver error).
Hoffer is especially proud of the increasing role emergency medical service (EMS) can play in reducing deaths and injuries. In addition to serving on the OTSC, Hoffer is a Salem paramedic and volunteer with the Mt. Angel Fire Department.
“When I can go home at the end of a shift knowing all those sons and daughters, mothers and fathers made it home safely, that’s more precious than anything,” Hoffer said.
The Oregon Transportation Safety Action Plan aims to address both driver errors and other contributions to crashes, injuries and fatalities. It is the safety element of the state’s long-range multimodal transportation plan, the Oregon Transportation Plan. It also serves as the state’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan, a document required by federal law. Last updated in 2006, OTSAP establishes goals, strategies and initiatives that address the core transportation safety challenges and opportunities facing Oregon.
In particular, the OTSAP identifies actions for special areas of emphasis that should be in place by the year 2020. The remaining actions in the plan address a variety of transportation safety problems covering all modes and all aspects of safety. Many also contribute to furthering additional goals from the Oregon Transportation Plan and will help reduce congestion, encourage the use of alternative modes, and improve livability throughout the state.
The Federal Highway Administration also approved the OTSAP process and congratulated Oregon on a “well-stated and detailed plan of action to help reduce crashes on all roads of the state.”
Implementation of the OTSAP is dependent upon the availability of funding. While moderate reductions in Oregon’s highway death toll can continue through current programs, a sustained, concentrated effort will prevent many crashes and save a significant number of lives and dollars. OTSAP will help strengthen the focus of safety efforts to the factors contributing to the most transportation-related fatalities and injuries and will encourage programs and practices that address other significant safety problems.
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