Location: Route 126 – South of Eastbound Lanes, Viewable from Westbound Lanes
More Information: Public Information Coordinator | spdpi@springfield-or.gov
Completed By: Zak Gosa-Lewis, PIC
INFORMATION:
Springfield drivers may have noticed a new billboard along Route 126 in recent weeks. The sign, which was funded thanks to grants from our partners at the Oregon Department of Transportation & Oregon Impact, is located on the south side of route 126 near the 28th Street overpass and is visible to drivers headed westbound.
“I wanted to try and reach people in a new way about the importance of not driving distracted, so I thought ‘Why not a billboard?’” shared Ofc. Pardee, a 4-year member of SPD’s Traffic Team. Pardee says that he has seen an uptick in distracted driving and the unfortunate injuries that can accompany the behavior.
Numbers from ODOT seem to agree: from 2016-2020 there were 15,538 crashes resulting in 186 fatalities and 24,126 injuries caused by crashes involving a distracted driver in Oregon (among drivers of all ages). In that same time frame, there were 59,074 convictions across Oregon for Distracted Driving.
So next time you’re reaching for your device while driving, remember to ‘park your phone’ and Don’t Drive Distracted!
If interested in further media coverage, please contact SPD at spdpi@springfield-or.gov