Multnomah County wants to remind all drivers to pay attention and be alert of your surroundings as Daylight Saving Time ends and the days get shorter.
- Slow down
- Turn on your lights
- Watch for your neighbors walking, biking and rolling on our streets
Crash-related injuries and deaths spike in November, according to data from Multnomah County’s Draft East Multnomah County Transportation Safety Action Plan (TSAP).
The TSAP identifies safety improvements, programs and actions that agencies and partners can take to improve transportation safety for everyone.
The project team reviewed more than 9,000 crash records between 2013 and 2022 in east Multnomah County to better understand where and how transportation safety can be improved. The crash data included roads in Gresham, Wood Village, Troutdale and Fairview.
During that time period, nearly 500 people were seriously injured and more than 100 people died in crashes in the study area. The number of people killed or seriously injured in crashes was nearly three times higher in 2022 than 2013.
Crash trends
- Crash-related serious injuries and deaths increase in the winter months for all modes of travel (cars, trucks, cyclists, pedestrians, those using mobility devices)
- Higher spike in crash-related injuries and death in November
- For all crashes in the study area, vulnerable road users (people walking, rolling and biking) were more likely to be involved in a serious injury or deadly crash
- Dusk and dawn are higher risk times for crashes involving cars hitting a cyclist or pedestrian
“The November uptick in crash-related serious injuries and deaths could be potentially linked to Daylight Saving Time ending and the days getting shorter,” TSAP Project Manager MaryJo Andersen said. “This can be an adjustment for drivers. We ask that you slow down and be on the lookout for all road users – it could save a life.”
Multnomah County maintains 269 miles of roads. For information, visit: https://www.multco.us/roads.