ODOT data: rising serious injuries, road deaths per mile now among the worst in U.S.; engineering countermeasures highlighted

ODOT presented crash and safety data showing a troubling trend: fatalities and serious injuries have risen over recent years, and statewide metrics place Oregon near the bottom in deaths per vehicle mile traveled. Presenters highlighted key crash types (intersection crashes and roadway departures) and emphasized countermeasures with measurable benefits, such as roundabouts (which presenters said can reduce crashes by roughly 78-82%) and rumble strips (noted to reduce fatalities and serious injuries by about 23%).

Panelists tied safety outcomes directly to funding for preservation and maintenance: pavement in poor condition limits the agency's ability to add durable striping or rumble strips, and staff reductions constrict the seasonal windows when maintenance crews can implement safety treatments. The safety presentation flagged speeding and polysubstance impairment as leading contributing behaviors and noted research efforts to identify why Oregon's serious-injury rates differ from other states.