Traffic deaths are rising in Multnomah County, particularly affecting communities of color, the homeless, and low-income residents. A comprehensive county report released in August 2023 provides a detailed examination.
The streets of Multnomah County, Oregon, are increasingly perilous, as evidenced by a sobering analysis of traffic-related fatalities in 2020 and 2021, which uncovered a staggering 42% increase in deaths compared to the average from 2015 to 2019.
A Disproportionate Toll on Vulnerable Populations
The county report found that Black, Indigenous, and other people of color in Oregon's most populous county were overrepresented in traffic-related fatalities. This discrepancy also extended to white and Hispanic or Latino residents, seniors over 65, and low-income residents. Particularly alarming was the discovery that traffic deaths are the leading cause of unintentional death and injury for those aged 5-24.
Pedestrian-related deaths are driving the increase nationally and in Multnomah County, reaching 7, 508 deaths last year, the highest level since 1981, according to the nonprofit Governors Highway Safety Association.
A Grim Trend Amidst Reduced Traffic
Surprisingly, the rise in fatalities occurred during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, when vehicle miles traveled initially dropped and remained lower than historic levels. Despite fewer cars on the road, traffic deaths rose during the years examined.
Speeding was implicated in 42% of fatal crashes across the two years, and homelessness factored in 24% of those deaths. "Pedestrian and bicycle deaths were more likely to occur among persons likely experiencing houselessness due to high exposure both from living in near-road environments and from consistent exposure resulting from being outside most of their days and nights, " the report stated.
An analysis of toxicology reports revealed that 84% of those killed tested positive for "at least one substance, " though except for alcohol, the intoxication levels remain unclear. Data for 62 incidents where a driver died found that 34% were above the legal blood alcohol limit of .08.
Public Responses and Proposed Solutions
The rising fatalities prompted a press conference outside Portland City Hall in August 2023, with county and city transportation leaders highlighting the crisis. Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson mourned the loss of two county employees killed in the past six weeks, insisting on future solutions.
County public health officials recommended policy measures in response to the dire situation. These included reducing speed limits region-wide, expanding the use of automated speed enforcement cameras, reengineering roads to deter or prevent speeding, and reigniting efforts to lower Oregon's legal limit for driving under the influence of alcohol from .08 to .05.
A Continuation of a Worrying Pattern
Portland alone recorded 13 traffic fatalities on city streets last month, marking the year's deadliest month. Among the tragic scenes, a single-vehicle rollover crash on Southeast 148th Avenue on Dec. 17, 2022, resulted in the driver's death. Courtesy images from the Portland Police Bureau captured a Major Crash Team van and police SUV at the scene.
The trend shows no sign of reversing, echoing an enduring struggle with traffic safety in the region. This concern continues to challenge Portland's Vision Zero campaign, an ambitious initiative advocating for the end of all traffic-related deaths by 2025.
