Speeding deaths up in Clackamas County

Speed accounts for more deaths than drunk driving, officials say

By Kyle Steele

The Clackamas Review, Aug 11, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

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In Clackamas County, speed was a factor in 53 percent of 2008 traffic fatalities, a number that beats out drunk driving deaths in the area.

With cuts to law enforcement and more Oregonians than ever before taking driving vacations closer to home, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), is seeing the number of speeders in the state increase. Statewide, 210 of the 416 traffic fatalities last year were related to speeding drivers, and of that 84 were innocent victims hit by speeding drivers.

“Typically speaking, the summer months are the deadliest for speeding behavior,” said Steve Vitolo, ODOT traffic law enforcement program manager.

There are many reasons people choose to speed, yet human error is one of the biggest factors in speeding crashes, according to ODOT. Studies show that the majority of motorists ignore speed limits because they feel they can maintain control of their vehicle, though in fact the opposite is true since the higher speeds lead to a reduction of the driver’s and the vehicle’s ability to avoid obstacles in their way.

“The deadliest roadways within Clackamas county are county roads followed by rural state highways,” said Vitolo.

In fact, the fatality rates are four times higher on rural roads due to speeding than in urban areas, according to ODOT. One of the safest roadways in the Clackamas County area is Interstate 205, according to Vitolo.