A recent article in the Keizer Times highlighted the story of a local man who is struggling to recover after an Oregon bicycle accident involving a drunk driver. According to the newspaper the 59-year old “had plans to compete in some bicycle competitions this summer,” instead he is now working…
Articles Posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents
Oregon Distracted Driving Crash Leads to Woman’s Arrest
The Oregonian is reporting that an arrest has been made in one of the most egregious Oregon distracted driving cases in recent memory. According to the newspaper, a 23-year-old Gresham woman is now under arrest after “taking video on her cellphone when she drove into three teens in a crosswalk…
Portland Crosswalk Death Turns Spotlight on Trucks, Again
Last week Portland suffered yet another tragic and preventable crosswalk death. The fact that this fatal Oregon traffic accident also involved a truck making a turn merely highlights the ongoing issue of pedestrian safety that I have written about so frequently. According to The Oregonian a 61-year-old man from…
Legislature Improves Protections for Oregon Motorists
Governor Kate Brown is considering whether or not to sign a bill improving protections for car drivers. The choice she faces is one between protecting consumers involved in Oregon car accidents and protecting the insurance industry. The legislation, formally known as Senate Bill 411, is designed “to ensure that Oregon…
Oregon Car Crashes May Lead to Rethink of Teen Driving Laws
The deaths of three teens in three separate Oregon car crashes earlier this month is leading some observers to call for a rethinking of the state’s teen driving laws, according to The Oregonian. “In 1999 the state passed a graduated driver’s license law for people under 18, requiring a period…
Death of 3 Children Focuses Community Activism on Springfield Intersection
An accident last weekend in which a pick-up truck struck and killed three children and left one adult in critical condition is sparking local activism, according to a report by the Associated Press, reprinted in The Oregonian. The accident took place “in or near a crosswalk” at the same intersection…
New York Crash Highlights Dangers of Railroad Crossings
The fatal crash of a commuter train this week near New York City has brought the dangers of grade crossings back into the national spotlight. The MetroNorth train struck an SUV on the tracks in Valhalla NY, in suburban Westchester County, on Wednesday. The crash killed the SUV’s driver as…
Salem Traffic Deaths Put Safety on City’s Agenda
An article published this week in the Salem Statesman-Journal highlights an alarming fact: in this one relatively small city “between December 26 and January 15 three vehicle crashes involving pedestrians resulted in four deaths.” The paper goes on to note that “all three crashes took place in darkness” and…
The Case Against Bigger Trucks
I want to take some time today to bring to readers’ attention an organization with an important message for Oregonians: The Coalition Against Bigger Trucks, or CABT. The CABT has won my support, because of the nuanced and thoughtful approach it takes to a problem that is especially significant in…
Little Noticed Provision in Spending Bill Spells Danger on Our Roads
As members of Congress worked through the weekend to agree on a spending bill to keep the federal government operating a fair of amount of media attention focused on an unrelated provision that would weaken the regulations imposed on banks in the wake of the 2008-09 financial crisis. Another, less…