Mayor: Spike in deadly Portland crashes 'unacceptable'
PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland streets have become especially deadly in 2013, averaging about one fatal crash every week.
Some of those deadly crashes have been because of dangerous driving. Others were caused by drunk drivers.
“Every person who dies in a crash represents a family and community tragedy. So far in 2013, we’re averaging about one death a week. That’s unacceptable,” Mayor Charlie Hales said in a news release Tuesday.
Portland’s Bureau of Transportation says citations for traffic violations are down so far this year, despite the spike in fatalities.
“Fatalities are what they call a random occurrence and so you can’t really pinpoint exactly, so you have these highs and lows and it’s really unfortunate that this year’s starting off with a significant number of fatalities,” said Sharon White with the bureau.
This map shows the locations of Portland's 10 deadly crashes in 2013, which resulted in 11 deaths.
View Deadly crashes in Portland in a larger map
“The Transportation Bureau is working diligently to make streets safer for everyone and raising awareness that drunk and distracted driving is a killer.” city transportation Director John Widmer said.
Tuesday, police officers caught drivers not stopping at a crosswalk at Southeast 28th and Powell.
One of the people ticketed was Charlie Tiller.
“I totally get it that people aren’t terribly focused on it right now,” Tiller said. “It’s always a bummer to get pulled over by the cops.”
Several traffic safety meetings have been held in the last month. The next meeting is scheduled for April 8 with the Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Association.
KATU's Bob Heye contributed to this story.
how about making people be more accountable for there actions likke keepinv them in jail? Didn't you guys just release a truck driver convicted of drinking and driving andnthe tur n him loose?
âThe Transportation Bureau is working diligently to make streets safer for everyone and raising awareness that drunk and distracted driving is a killer.â city transportation Director John Widmer said.
Good, that's helpful. Now how about teaching people to not try and cross streets during heavy traffic and at night while wearing dark clothing?
It's easier to blame "drunk drivers", one of the best scapegoats on the road.
So if it's a low period, the city issues a press release saying their measures are working out great, but if it's a high period it's just a statistical anomaly?
This is no surprise, considering that some of the worst drivers in the country are in the Portland area. It's not the Californian implants as many would like you to believe.  It was like this before they came here.
@Shadow
Oh no you can't go there because I have lived here and it's the imports who caused the issue.Â
Before the Californians came Portlanders drove just fine. There was VERY little traffic (so little people wondered by I205 was even built) and we all drove slowly because the city was small and you could get anywhere in 15 minutes.Â
Then the Carolinians came. Half of them were good drivers but it doubled the number of people on the road. So the other half who were in a hurry would speed and cause high fatality collisions. So the city started to remove lanes of traffic (like on 92, 122nd, Division, Stark, Burnside etc) to force the speeders behind the slower drivers. This just ticked them off.Â
Look at statistics. Look at the number of fatal collisions in Portland before 1985 and then look at each 10 year period after. The worst was between 1985 and 1995 when the transplants were new. It drops then increase again in 2005 and then goes down (the last one from improved saftey in cars). Â
By population the number of deadly collisions has increased and the only constant was the addition of Californians.Â
Maybe the 'natives' haven't yet figured out how to look out for others. That was a nice try, though. Next time, try blaming it on global warming or Wall Street.
If ODOT would just synchronize the traffic lights to coincide with the acceptable speed limits traffic will move more smoothly with less interruptions. This would reduce fuel consumption and the potential for collisions.
When I last suggested this to them I was told that it is as good as they could do, Balderdash! I am a retired professional driver (Iâve been driving for over fifty years) and have an excellent driving record and I have driven in other countries as well.
Portland could be the first city in this country to address the traffic to the benefit of the drivers and not ODOTâs inapt expediency.
@B E Burns
Actually I find many of them do pretty good. There is an exception on Powell at 65th (near Kellogg) where for some reason it is just off, but one can go from 102 (I-205) to 39th without coming to a complete stop even during the rush. 39th screws that up because of the busses that pull back into traffic but even after that things are good until Ross Island.Â
And 39th and 82nd are pretty good too. North during the morning, south during the day.Â
BUT if you are going east on Powell you will find issues during the morning (as they are timed to go west) and the same goes for going "against the grain" on cross-town streets.Â
Pay Attention on or near our roadways 101.
High feral, wanna dance?
@Bark wash your hands when you two are done.
no more warnings. ticket everybody irregarless. three strikes (within a certain period of time) and you're out, for serious traffic violations, no more license. also, hold bars accountable for over serving beer to people already too drunk, or any supplier of an intoxicating substance.
"Irregarless" is my word of the day.
@Phuzz So blame the seller not the person at fault? Makes sense ........................
I forgot to mention... I dont think ANYONE could have known beforehand a drunk truck driver would drive the wrong way on the freeway and cause an accident, slowing traffic for hours during rushhour traffic this morning. I'm sure its also unacceptable, but unfortunately, no solution for it. Better to concentrate on what he CAN help. That was sure a mess this morning :(
LOL Well... Love that our new mayor is interested in our spike in accidents, but there are only so many things that he can manage. Sorry, that just sort of made me laugh when I read that he thought the spike was unacceptable. Good luck with that one, sir :)
I wonder how many of these involved Bicycles?
Probably all of them. Liberalism seems to lead to self-extermination. Hm... maybe there is hope for America after all.
They're equally likely to involve some uppity SUV-driving bobblehead like yourself, TPH. How can I tell? You're just as self-involved as those that you point the finger at.
@Tea Party Hero Even worst I bet they were living people..
Gee that sounds just as dumb as what you said...Â
Nuke and pave, then everyone gets a motorcycle.  Gas burning, not electric.
Crashing and dieing should be outlawed now.
Good grief Mayor, sure it sucks but you cannot micromanage foot and vehicle traffic. Nobody is impressed by your show of 'concern'.
this is what happens when you put all the Obama voters in one place. Â They all think they are entitled to the same road at the same time.
@Common Sence How about the possibility that everyone is highly depressed, and drinking until obummer is out of office. LOL
@myopinion240Â @Common Sence Hummm , sounds like a good reason to start in again !
Fascinating map - http://map.itoworld.com/road-casualties-usa
Lower the speed limit to 5 MPH and save lives
Portland's #1 mayoral candidate Tre Arrow WOULD NEVER drive a car in Portland but he would Captain a Pedicab on the weekends and during Rose Festival.
@Agness P Weatherby "Captain a pedicab"?  Ahoy matey. Â
So a pedicabs is a worthy enough vessel to warrant a "captain" these days? Perhaps then Mr. Captain Tre Arrow can don his skippers cap and lead a sustainable parade all over town. Well, it is Portlandia. Lol.
@Agness P Weatherby While the most recent former mayor would have been operating a Pedocab.
Well if they were staking out neighborhoods instead of just the construction areas( where they get double fines) perhaps it would help. They used to speed trap my hood a couple times a month until all the construction projects started a couple years ago. Plus if people put the damn phone down for a few minutes while they drove that might help too.
Ban cars!
@therandomrogerAs one who commutes exclusively by unicycle to the tofu factory, I could not agree more. Thank you for your support!
@S_O_P_AÂ @therandomroger I hope your unicycle has a shock absorber .. Um , for your sake of course..
"..one death a week". Â So study each one, for cause. Is there an increase in DUI, Speeding, Street signs, time of day. Â Certainly you could compare this years stats with prior years and come up with some type of pattern. Â Passing out tickets is not the answer UNTIL you know the specific cause/reason for "..one death per week".Â
@bat54 The alternative is to reduce traffic enforcement and eliminate speed laws then natural attrition will eventually result in fewer road deaths.  It's known as the Darwin Effect and eventually new drivers will equalize with retiring drivers and road deaths/homicide by auto will stabilize.
@Agness P Weatherby @bat54Â
That's how they train drivers in China. (No kidding it really is)
Shouldn't there be a huge spike in stoner-related deaths? I wonder what the stats are on that.
@Playanekes Not a lot of people don't smoke weed because it is illegal.  I doubt the number of smokers has climbed too much due to Washington's new law.
"weâre averaging about one death a week" that's what you get for passing the Art tax.
@TreeWizard  Yes, they should limit the size of gas tanks to just 4 gallons and institute a universal background check....that way if a guy has a driving infraction on Mars then he can't drive a car on Uranus.
@Agness P Weatherby @TreeWizard You wish.
Can you say more revenue!
If you drive the streets of Portland you can see why it is so dangerous out there. Â So many people out there driving who don't have the sense given to a house fly. Â They hand out licenses way too easy in this state...Probably the country.
Driving is NOT a right. Â They should make the test harder. Â Sure, people will drive without licenses too, but it couldn't hurt.
Oh yes, and using your cell phone while driving (such as texting or talking without a headset) should be punishable in the same way drunk driving is, if not more severely.
@Portlander29 hmm , you have some good points there ..
@Portlander29Â Strange. The person who bounced off my hood was texting. Â That doesn't count against me does it?
@Constitution Warrior @Portlander29 No way.  If the Pedestrian is the one texting and not paying attention, it is their fault.
the drivers manual say,s pedestrains have the right of way some drivers need to go to driveing school and or read the manual =take the test over i think they misses that question
@Sherry L Campbell Can you quote where in the manual it says pedestrians have the right of way except for intersections and marked crosswalks?
@Playanekes @Sherry L Campbell The seven/eleven at Se market and Se 122nd had a pamphlet available for pedestrian crossing  rights. I read it and concluded that anywhere a pedestrian stands to cross is an unmarked intersection thus a unmarked crosswalk .Basically it is always the cars fault. No mandatory insurance for peds. No mention of the consequences for stepping into traffic that is not stopping and honoring your right of way
@tally @Playanekes @Sherry L Campbell I dunno about that.  But in Oregon, every intersection is indeed considered a crosswalk and cars are supposed to yield to pedestrians trying to walk.  I think if there is a signal that is off...everyone is supposed to go by the signal then.  I have never heard of anywhere being considered a crosswalk if someone decides they want to cross.  That seems pretty ludicrous.
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@Molly Head @Sherry L Campbell Can you arrange for me a meeting with your avatar? Oh, no, it's not what you think. I am a local representative for an organization which employs scantily clad women to arouseÂ
awareness for our cause.
@Molly Head I need to start wearing a bib when I'm leaning over the keyboard...