Safety Corner

New Driving Law

Effective January 1, 2014, Senate Bill 444 makes smoking in a motor vehicle with a minor under the age of 18 present a secondary traffic violation.  For more information about this law, including the fine for violations, see the attachment below.

Bikers

Walk+Bike Networking Night is Here! You are cordially invited to attend the 3rd Annual Walk+Bike Networking Night on January 30th from 6pm-8pm at the Community Cycling Center (1700 NE Alberta St. Portland, OR 97211). There will be snacks "potluck-style" so bring something to share!

The goal for the evening is to have fun and connect everyone with new ideas, resources, and energy. We will work together to create, promote, and expand Walk+Bike and Safe Routes to School programs in the Portland Metro area.

Drivers

Back to school means more children walking and biking on our roads. Younger children often have limited experience with traffic and lack the skills to negotiate traffic safely. Motorists need to take special care while driving. Help our children walk safely to school by following these important safety rules:

• Be aware of school zone area and residential areas beyond to marked zone.
• Reduce speed in school zones, and extend this if there are lots of pedestrians.
• Be ready to stop at all times. Children do not always notice oncoming traffic.
• Always try to make eye contact with children waiting to cross the road.
• Be patient and wait for children to complete their crossing before proceeding.
• Stop when directed to do so by a crossing guard.
• Get ready to stop when a school bus flashes amber lights, and stop for a school bus flashing red lights.
• Remember, school buses stop at all railway crossings.