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82% support safety cameras

Newsletter
A group of about a half dozen adults on bicycles crossing an intersection in a protected bike lane.
PBOT's Vision Zero January 2025 newsletter.
Published
Updated

In this email

  • Community has generally favorable response to PBOT SE Division Street safety project
  • Survey finds Portlanders strongly support automated enforcement for safer streets
  • Building a Better 82nd: Using signal timing to improve safety
  • Opportunities for youth
  • Ask a PBOT expert
  • When will the Portland 2024 Deadly Traffic Crash Report be available?
  • Recent and upcoming changes to speed limits
  • High Crash Network projects
  • Vision Zero Dashboard: Monthly, updated deadly crash data
  • Remember to say crash, not accident!
  • Free Vision Zero pins, stickers, brochures, fliers, and yard signs
  • Personal safety resources
  • What we're reading

Community has generally favorable response to SE Division Street safety project

A group of about a half dozen adults on bicycles crossing an intersection in a protected bike lane.

What is the Outer Division Safety Project?

The Outer Division Safety Project was designed to increase safety for people walking, biking, rolling, and driving on one of Portland's highest-crash corridors through proven and nationally-recognized traffic safety tools. The project improved SE Division Street between 80th and 174th avenues in Powellhurst-Gilbert, Montavilla, Mill Park, Hazelwood, and Centennial neighborhoods. Construction began in 2021 and was fully completed in 2024.

Evaluation

After completing much of the project, Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) conducted two evaluations: a quantitative evaluation focused on safety, and a qualitative evaluation focused on community experiences. For the latter, PBOT staff surveyed 230+ community members at more than a dozen events to learn about their experiences traveling along the corridor.

An older adult and child walk across an intersection on SE Division Street with recent traffic safety improvements.

Survey shows improved corridor experience, mixed feedback on specific treatments

Most survey respondents felt that the Outer Division Safety Project improved their overall experience along SE Division Street. Reflecting on some of the specific project elements, many respondents expressed ambivalence or slight dissatisfaction. Top-level findings include: 

  • Sixty percent of participants stated that the project had a positive or very positive impact on their ability to commute, work, play, or pray along the corridor.
  • Participants overwhelmingly reported (92%) that every type of safety treatment made travel feel “safer” or “about the same.”

The Outer Division Safety Project Post-Project Community Experience Summary includes more information about key findings and a brief description of who we heard from through surveys and community conversations.

Read the Post-Project Community Experience Summary


Survey finds Portlanders strongly support automated enforcement for safer streets

A white intersection safety camera attached to a pole above a major street intersection in front of tree foliage.

This fall, Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and Portland Police Bureau (PPB) surveyed nearly 2,000 Portlanders about traffic safety and automated enforcement, and the results are clear: Portlanders strongly support measures to improve safety on our streets. Here’s what we learned:

  • Strong support for automated enforcement: A supermajority supports using intersection safety cameras (82%) and speed safety cameras (76%) to enforce traffic laws.
  • Fairness and awareness: Most survey participants (71%) believe photo enforcement is fair, and awareness of these tools is high (94% for intersection safety cameras, 82% for speed safety cameras).
  • Concern about traffic safety: The majority (58%) feel traffic safety is worsening on all street types.
  • Demand for more enforcement: 79% of respondents think Portland isn’t enforcing traffic laws enough.
  • Agreement on speeding risks: A near-universal 93% agree that speeding increases crash risks and the severity of injuries and fatalities.

These insights highlight Portlanders’ desire for stronger traffic law enforcement to create safer streets for all. Survey feedback will help the city work toward Vision Zero, Portland’s goal to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries on our streets.

PBOT and PPB operate safety cameras at and along the highest-crash streets and intersections across the city. These cameras, along with infrastructure and education, play a critical part to help enforce safe driving behaviors.

Learn more about speed and intersection safety cameras


Building a Better 82nd: Using signal timing to improve safety

A major intersection on 82nd Avenue at night showing the illuminated signals, street lighting, and vehicle lights.

To help make critical safety improvements to 82nd Avenue, one of Portland's highest-crash corridors, Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) traffic signal engineers are finding opportunities to address safety through signal timing. With $4 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, PBOT is using traffic signal timing to better manage traffic flow, lower vehicle speeds, and enhance safety for everyone using the street—whether walking, biking, taking transit, or driving.

Traditionally, traffic signal engineers use signal timing to move more cars through a corridor. Instead, at PBOT, we are focused on how to move more people to where they need to go, safely.

Pedestrian safety and speed reduction

First, PBOT will introduce "rest in red" on 82nd Avenue. This traffic safety technology acts as a virtual speed bump displaying red lights in all directions during late night and early morning hours when traffic volume is light. This interrupts excessive speeding—a top contributing factor to traffic deaths. Additionally, PBOT traffic engineers will increase the time allocated for pedestrian crossings at all signalized intersections, particularly during busier times of day. 

Speed detection and active management

In the next phase, PBOT—in partnership with Oregon State University—will research, then deploy speed detection technology to proactively manage dangerous driving behaviors. For example, if a person driving a motor vehicle is speeding as they approach an intersection, the system will be programmed to reduce the likelihood that the driver continues to receive a green light. 

Expanding safety measures

PBOT will expand speed detection technology by using a system level approach to reduce speeding drivers. If signal timing cannot influence a speeding driver to slow down at an initial intersection, the system may be programmed to influence the driver's speed at an intersection further along their route. 

A holistic approach to safer streets

Together, these changes are part of PBOT’s ongoing commitment to prioritize safety and accessibility for all people who use 82nd Avenue. PBOT is combining education, enforcement, and engineering to make our streets safer. With continued investment and innovation, it's PBOT's goal that these improvements will meaningfully reduce crashes and create a corridor that better meets the needs of people walking, biking, taking transit, and driving. 

Learn more about signal timing improvements on 82nd Avenue


Opportunities for youth

About 10 teenagers riding orange BIKETOWN bikeshare bikes on a bike lane.

Rose City Self-Defense youth personal safety classes

Registration open now

Rose City Self-Defense empowers girls, women and the LGBTQ+ community. Youth-based classes are open to ages 11-14. Two-part series classes are available in February, April, May, and June in neighborhoods across the city. All programming is free!

Learn more about youth personal safety classes

Winter Walk + Roll to School Day

Wednesday, February 5

Put on your snow or rain boots and walk or roll to school while enjoying wintertime in Portland. On Wednesday, Feb. 5, schools across Portland and the state are celebrating Winter Walk + Roll to School Day! This annual tradition is just one fantastic opportunity for the local school community to come together, build connections, and celebrate getting to school in a fun and sustainable way.

Learn more about Winter Walk + Roll to School Day

Teens in the Driver Seat Driving the Message Contest 

Due Friday, February 14

This year's Teens in the Driver Seat, a peer-to-peer safety program for America's youth, Driving the Message Contest will give junior high and high school students an opportunity to showcase their creative talents. Students have a chance to win prizes of up to $1,500 plus an opportunity to have a professional film crew re-produce your video!

Learn more about the Driving the Message Contest

Project Yellow Light scholarship competition

Due Saturday, March 1 and Tuesday, April 1

People know distracted driving is dangerous, but they do it anyway. As a Project Yellow Light applicant you have one clear mission: create a public service announcement to encourage your friends to avoid distracted driving, specifically using your phone while driving. Scholarships range from $2,000 to $8,000. 

Learn more about Project Yellow Light's scholarship competition


Ask a PBOT expert

The back of a PBOT employee wearing a reflective, branded jacket explaining a project to an elected official.

Every year, our Vision Zero inbox is filled with thoughtful questions from community members about traffic safety—and our team works hard to provide equally thoughtful answers. These exchanges often spark meaningful conversations, and we believe they deserve a bigger audience. That’s why we’re sharing a standout question and answer in our newsletter, edited for clarity and brevity, to highlight insights and ideas that benefit us all. We hope you find it as enlightening as we did!

Q: Portland voter here—are there ways I or other Portland residents can get involved to help make streets safer? This has been a recurring topic with my neighbors in NW Portland.

A: There are several impactful ways you and your neighbors can help:

  • Be a good role model: Drive responsibly—follow the speed limit or slower, never drive under the influence, yield to pedestrians, and avoid distractions. By modeling safe driving behaviors, you’ll influence those around you and help normalize responsible habits.
  • Advocate for safety: Share your support for safe streets with city leaders, including city councilors, the mayor, and Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) staff. Messages that push for safety improvements and express gratitude for existing efforts help maintain political and community support, especially during public feedback periods for specific projects.
  • Support transportation funding. PBOT faces significant budget challenges. Supporting funding options that focus on making our streets safer—both at the city and state levels—can make a big difference.
  • Spread the word. Talk with friends, family, and neighbors about the importance of safe streets. Many people want safer streets but may hesitate to adjust their habits or support funding increases. Helping more people understand these connections will encourage cultural shifts around safety and drive meaningful change.

Learn more about how you can help us end traffic violence in Portland


When will the Portland 2024 Deadly Traffic Crash Report be available?

Map of Portland noting where fatal crashes occurred and the first names of victims, where available.

Each winter, Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) evaluates and analyzes the previous calendar year's deadly traffic crashes in Portland and reports on local trends.  

Understanding the circumstances and factors associated with the loss of each of these lives is core to our work. The people who have died on Portland’s streets were children, parents, siblings, aunts and uncles, neighbors, and friends. Their lives were cut short. Their loss has left gaping holes in the hearts of those who knew them and loved them. 

PBOT is expecting to publish the 2024 report in the first quarter of the year (before March 31). To create the report, the Vision Zero team uses finalized and preliminary traffic death data from the Oregon Department of Transportation and Portland Police Bureau.

Learn more about the Annual Deadly Traffic Crash Report


Recent and upcoming changes to speed limits

An illustrated temporary sign of a chameleon sitting above a yellow "slow down!" sign in a Portland neighborhood.

Speed is a top contributing factor to traffic deaths

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), as committed to in the Vision Zero Action Plan Update 2023-25, is updating speed limits citywide to set safe travel speeds. Why? Because speed is a top contributing factor to traffic deaths. At least 42% of deadly crashes in recent years involve speed. And as people travel faster, the risk of death or serious injury rises dramatically. For example, a pedestrian struck by a person driving at 40 mph is eight times more likely to die than a pedestrian struck at 20 mph.

Recent changes

Locations where PBOT reduced the speed limits in the last month:

30 to 25 mph

  • SE 92nd Avenue from 91st Place to Reedway Street
  • SW Huber Street from Capitol Highway to 35th Avenue

Upcoming changes

Locations where PBOT recently received approval from the Oregon Department of Transportation to reduce the speed limit and will post new speed limit signs in the coming months:

35 to 30 mph

  • SE 162nd Avenue from Stark Street to Powell Boulevard

30 to 25 mph

  • NE Fremont Avenue from SE 102nd to 122nd avenues
  • SE 92nd Avenue from Lincoln Street to 91st Place
  • SW 62nd Avenue from Taylors Ferry Road to Pomona Street
  • N Argyle Street/Way from Interstate Avenue to Columbia Boulevard

30 to 20 mph

  • N Mississippi Avenue from Fremont to Cook streets

PBOT speed limit map

PBOT's speed limit map shows the locations and extents of speed limits on Portland's streets—excluding freeways. (Please note that it may be several months before the map displays the updated speed limits due to limited staff capacity.)

Learn more about PBOT's speed limit map


High Crash Network projects

A yellow "caution high crash intersection slow down" sign stands on a pole in advance of a major intersection.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation prioritizes safety investments in Portland's highest-crash streets and intersections. These 30 streets with the most serious crashes represent 8% of Portland streets yet account for 62% of traffic deaths in recent years. The High Crash Network also disproportionately intersects with communities with higher proportions of people of color and lower median incomes.

Recently completed projects

Projects under construction

Learn more about the High Crash Network


Vision Zero Dashboard: Monthly, updated deadly crash data

A map of safety improvements on Portland's High Crash Network. Blue indicates complete, orange indicates started.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation's Vision Zero Dashboard provides an overview of traffic safety improvements from the past five to 10 years—as well as data relating to our performance measures.

The Vision Zero team updates the dashboard regularly. Preliminary deadly crash data is updated monthly, while other data is updated quarterly or annually based on availability from our program partners, including the Portland Police Bureau.

Learn more about the Vision Zero Dashboard


Remember to say crash, not accident!

“Crash” in a handwritten, yellow marker font type above “accident” in a light, strike-through yellow font type.

We’re inviting our community to change the way we talk about crashes. We want to shift the broad cultural perception that crashes are inevitable and remind each other that they are predictable and preventable. A Vision Zero approach refuses to accept traffic violence as a byproduct of “just the way things are.” So, will you join us?

Learn more about why we say crash, not accident


Free Vision Zero pins, stickers, brochures, fliers, and yard signs

A pile of white and orange Vision Zero reflective pins and stickers, fliers, and brochures.

Help educate family, friends, neighbors, your school, or your organization about Vision Zero, Portland's commitment to eliminate serious and fatal traffic injuries.

Learn more about how to get free Vision Zero materials


Personal safety resources

A student jumping between two jump ropes playing Double Dutch in front of seven of their peers wearing backpacks.

We want to help create a transportation system that allows all people to feel safe getting where they need to go. Check out our webpage full of resources that address personal safety on our streets, including information about how to:

PDX 311 is available to help with any local government questions or service needs. Staff are fluent in English, Spanish, Romanian, and Tagalog and have resources for additional languages. 

Learn more about personal safety resources


What we're reading

  • How to teach bike safety to kids: What Seattle is doing as traffic deaths rise (Seattle Times)
  • High-visibility clothing may thwart pedestrian crash prevention sensors (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
  • Taller vehicles are more dangerous to pedestrians, even at low speeds, research finds (NPR)
  • Preventing unsafe speeds (Vision Zero Network)
  • The deadly trio on U.S. roads—speeding, distractions, and aggression (AAA)
  • A third of Americans don’t drive. So why is our transportation so car-centric? (Yale Climate Connections)
  • Why it’s so frickin’ hard to stop driving (Slate)
  • People know distracted driving is unsafe but do it anyway, survey shows (Family Safety & Health)
  • As marijuana use grows, effect on road safety remains a blind spot (New York Times)
  • Drunk driving in the U.S. rose in recent years. Would a lower legal limit improve safety? (PBS News)
  • You aren't imagining it. Car headlights are brighter. (Albuquerque Journal)
  • Can states hit the brakes on runaway roadbuilding? (Bloomberg CityLab)
  • Big gains in San Francisco street safety are elusive. This traffic expert tells why. (The Frisc)
  • Functional Engineering: The practices of compassionate engineering (ProFound City Insights)
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