A Call to Save Lives
National and local data on traffic fatalities show progress, and where we need investments
New data on pedestrian fatalities in Oregon was released last week. While the trend is positive year-over-year (pedestrian deaths in 2024 fell slightly from 2023), traffic deaths have remained disturbingly high since 2014. The Street Trust spoke with Axios Portland about the release of both the Governor's Highway Safety Association’s Preliminary Data Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State for 2024 and PBOT’s 2024 Vision Zero report.
“Sarah Iannarone, executive director of The Street Trust, said the recent dip was likely due to more investments in things like pedestrian crossings, speed reduction and changes to road design, though she cautioned that it's too soon to ‘rest on our laurels.’"
The key takeaway? One year of reduced violence is an accomplishment, but the trendline is still headed in the wrong direction: if we want to save lives, now is time to redouble our efforts and investments. The transportation package the Oregon legislature is working on right now represents a huge opportunity to shape our transportation future for the better. Either we move forward with expanded investments in safety, or we will see deaths and serious injuries meeting or exceeding the five-year-high numbers we saw in Oregon and around the country in 2023.
Behind every one of these statistics is an inestimable loss and a person who was loved. We mourn those we lost to traffic violence, and celebrate every life saved by traffic calming, improved road design, and decreased dependence on driving. We must work to ensure every neighborhood has safe streets for everyone.
Unfortunately, the data we have shows us that our neighborhoods remain unequal in terms of safety, accessibility and the incidence of fatalities, which is predictably higher in East Portland as shown by PBOT’s data.
East Multnomah County is a priority equity area, with high concentrations of Black/African Americans, immigrants and refugees, and people living on low incomes. Residents here face substantially more risk. Nearly half of fatal crashes happen there. These neighborhoods have streets that are lower quality, higher speed and often overlooked for investment. Using our resources in our lowest income neighborhoods with the worst safety outcomes could have the largest impact on reducing the fatalities and serious injuries that result from traffic violence.
We continue to call on decision-makers at every level of government to recognize the severity of on-street deaths as a preventable public health emergency. Lead with a clear vision of economic benefits of a better transportation system. Lower and enforce speeds on our deadliest corridors. Invest in safe, complete routes for people walking, biking, and rolling. Cut the red tape that stands in the way of saving lives. Don’t let the idea of perfect street design stand in the way of roads, sidewalks, and bike lanes that are safer and more accessible for our families.
We have several opportunities to invest in solutions this year, as the state legislature and City of Portland transportation budgeting processes move forward. It will take sustained public outcry to mobilize support, break the political gridlock, and continue to save lives. The Street Trust is defending our families and working to make safer streets a lived reality for all Oregonians, but we can’t do it without the support of people like you.
Please make a donation today to help fight for safe, accessible streets. Your gifts help fund staff to testify for safety investments in Salem, provide safety education around the state, and ensure we can save lives from traffic violence.