Have you just passed your test and are planning to hit the roads of Oregon? Or maybe you’re thinking about relocating to the beautiful countryside of Oregon and wondering how safe the place is. Whatever the case, you may find the statistics on traffic accidents on country roads in Oregon interesting.
Overview of the Challenges on Country Roads and Traffic Accident Statistics
Oregon has one of the most extensive networks of country roads, offering picturesque drives through its diverse landscapes. These roads meander through forests, farmlands, and mountainous regions, attracting tourists, commuters, and local residents alike.
While these roads provide a unique driving experience, they also present distinct challenges. Much narrower than urban highways, these roads often wind through hilly terrains, making it difficult for drivers to anticipate upcoming turns or obstacles. Add to this the lack of adequate infrastructure, and you can see why the risk of accidents on Oregon roads is very high.
In fact, it is so high that every month the police in Oregon report 3,000 car accidents, which accounts for 25% of all accidents in the state. These are just the numbers that are officially reported, but the real number is much higher than that.
What also happens pretty often on country roads in Oregon is speed-limited violations. Because these roads are not regulated by law enforcement officers, drivers are tempted to speed up, overtaking on blind corners. Unfortunately, this increases the risk of crashes, especially for pedestrians.
The sad statistic is, the number of people killed in vehicle crashes in 2020 and 2021 jumped 15%, with more than 581 deaths recorded in the first six months of 2021. Unfortunately, in 2022 these numbers increased to 41%, making country roads in Oregon dangerous for commuters and local people.
In fairness, it should be noted that these numbers aren’t the highest compared to some other states in the USA, but people who live or travel in Oregon would still like to see these numbers lower.
Country roads in Oregon aren’t the best when it comes to driving due to their characteristics that we discussed a bit earlier. However, what makes the situation worse is that a lot of drivers get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol. According to the report by the U.S. Department of Transportation, in 2021, 306 drivers died in car accidents with BAC.
74% of accidents that occur on the roads of Oregon happen after sunset. Over 93% of pedestrians get killed in crashes during this time.
Statistics on Vehicle Types and Number of Vehicles
It’s also interesting to explore the correlation between the number of crashes and the vehicles involved. Research conducted by IIHS-HLDI sheds light on this aspect, revealing that 54% of accidents in Oregon occur in single-vehicle incidents, while the remaining 46% involve multiple vehicles.
Furthermore, delving deeper into the transportation modes involved in crashes provides a more comprehensive picture. Recent data from Oregon’s accident records in 2021 reveals a breakdown of accident types by vehicle type:
- Car occupants accounted for approximately 33% of accidents;
- Pickup trucks and SUVs were involved in about 29% of accidents;
- Motorcyclists constituted 14% of accidents;
- Bicyclists accounted for 3%;
- Pedestrians were involved in 15% of traffic crashes.
These statistics reflect the importance of implementing traffic safety programs that cater to the specific needs and challenges of each mode of transportation.
Statistics on Fatalities by Restraint Use
It’s worth saying that Oregon has been working hard all this time to analyze the causes of crashes and develop strategies to reduce the risk of fatalities. In fact, they’ve managed to achieve some success. According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the last 16 years were much better compared to the 1940s when fatality rates were extremely high.
Unlike years ago, drivers and passengers are now more committed to using safety equipment, such as a child seat, helmets, safety belts, and so on.
That being said, when examining the statistics of traffic-related accidents in Oregon, an interesting pattern emerges. Despite the fact that approximately 95% of people use safety belts, among the fatally injured occupants, a significant 47% were restrained at the time of an accident, and only 32% were not.
We’re inclined to think that the reason for this is the above-mentioned design of the roads, which has so many turns, twists, blind spots, no streetlights, and no crossroads. This makes driving in the countryside unsafe, despite all the countermeasures already taken by the authorities.
Final Words
In the end, there’s probably no place in this world where traffic accidents don’t happen, and when you look at it from this point of view, Oregon isn’t the most dangerous place. For example, Mississippi with a fatality rate of 26.2 per 100,000 people beats Oregon on this with ease!
However, it’s true that country roads in Oregon can be quite dangerous, especially for pedestrians, due to the lack of adequate infrastructure. Additionally, since these roads wind into the woods and hilly terrains, there’s also a risk of collisions with animals, such as deer or elk, which can lead to severe crashes if not exercising caution.
The good news is, the Traffic Safety Administration is aware of the root causes of traffic accidents in Oregon and is working hard to improve the situation in the state. They’ve already implemented a lot of safety measures, including e-reports, which has allowed them to drastically reduce the death rate compared to the 1940s. Looking to the future, this trend will only continue.