Police write 53 speeding citations in just two hours on Highway 26 near the Zoo

PPB officers camped out on Highway 26 up near the Oregon Zoo to catch speeders. Read their press release below for how that turned out…

53 CITATIONS ISSUED DURING A #VISIONZERO TRAFFIC SAFETY MISSION

News Release from Portland Police Bureau
Posted on FlashAlert: October 12th, 2016 3:04 PM
Downloadable file: Vision_Zero.jpg
On Tuesday October 11, 2016, the Portland Police Bureau’s Traffic Division conducted a Vision Zero traffic safety mission on the Sunset Highway at the Oregon Zoo overpass. For approximately two hours, officers conducted high-visibility enforcement and education stops.

In total, 53 traffic citations were issued along with three written warnings. The average citation speed was 70 MPH in the 50 MPH zone. This location was selected for the mission due to the number of crashes that occur on the Sunset Highway.

This mission was conducted in an effort to address the high number of traffic crashes this year resulting in serious physical injuries or death. So far this year, 32 people have died in traffic-related crashes.

The Traffic Division and Precinct operations will be conducting future enforcement missions as staffing allows.

The Portland Police Bureau is committed to working with our partners in government and the community to create safer streets and work towards reducing, and eventually eliminating, traffic fatalities as part of Vision Zero.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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Spiffy
7 years ago

average 70 in a 50… AVERAGE! exceeding the lawful speed limit by 40%… and this is every day… every day people are going dangerously fast through there…

the freeway needs speed bumps…

Eric Leifsdad
Eric Leifsdad
7 years ago
Reply to  Spiffy

Average *citation* was 70/50. But, they probably didn’t make any stops (or at least citations) for under 60, which might be less than the average speed. That’s still 20% over, but a class D violation (the lowest class with the smallest fines, like no turn signal, not using the bike lane or seat 814.420, 814.470, parking in a bike lane 811.555/811.550, parking a car with wheels turned the wrong way or on the wrong side of the road 814.470, although driving on the wrong side is class B, 811.295)

rick
rick
7 years ago

There is so much speeding on the side streets near Sylvan.

rick
rick
7 years ago

I thought over 34 people have died on Portland streets and highways so far in 2016.

Ted Timmons (Contributor)
Reply to  rick

Our tracking shows 35. It’s been tough to track them down; I have a public records request out for one of them and am time-constrained to research the rest.

Spiffy
7 years ago

January 17 fatality… not a lot of info though…

http://www.golocalpdx.com/news/pedestrian-killed-in-portland-crash

maybe I should just email these to you…

Spiffy
7 years ago
Reply to  Spiffy
Ted Timmons (Contributor)
Reply to  Spiffy

Email me (ted@perljam.net) and I’ll give you access to the doc. Look at the ‘2016 full list’ tab.

Spiffy
7 years ago

sent!

rick
rick
7 years ago
Reply to  Spiffy

Sad

Eric Leifsdad
Eric Leifsdad
7 years ago

row 34 says beaverton. A couple of those say you’re uncertain whether the victim survived? The official count is 32 as of Sept 9th, so I think those 3 are the discrepancy.
http://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/cs/read.cfm?id=7554

Thank you for tracking down that info and staying on top of it.

Ted Timmons (Contributor)
Reply to  Eric Leifsdad

Good point on #34, Eric. Thanks. Removed it.

The official counts have varied. I don’t think it’s being tracked very well. (this sheet started from a list given by the city; we got it on Sept 6, so presumably everything before that is an official fatality.

Eric Leifsdad
Eric Leifsdad
7 years ago
twitchology
twitchology
7 years ago

i ride my bike to work on the sunset highway everyday and am outraged by these scofflaws jeopardizing my personal safety.

Bob Loblaw
Bob Loblaw
7 years ago

Since when is that spot considered a high crash corridor? Cars speed there and I speed between them on a motorcycle. Big deal. Go do some real work and figure out how to ticket people for staring at their phones instead of the road.

Dan A
Dan A
7 years ago
Reply to  Bob Loblaw

I requested an enforcement action at the MUP crosswalk at Sylvan & Hwy 26. No idea if they are doing anything with my request.

El Biciclero
El Biciclero
7 years ago
Reply to  Dan A

+1000000

Dan A
Dan A
7 years ago
Reply to  El Biciclero

I’d say 1/2 of the right-turning drivers there stop IN the crosswalk before looking left or right, and 1/2 of those stop PAST the crosswalk.

Spiffy
7 years ago
Reply to  Bob Loblaw

data shows as many issues there as at Division and 82nd so I’d say it’s a problem just by the data, but I’ve driven it plenty of times and it’s an issue just by the feeling you get driving it…

thanks for letting us know you’re part of the problem and that we should ask for enforcement actions targeting motorcyclists in that area…

Spffysux
7 years ago

You should look up the research thats been done on this. Not going with the flow of traffic is dangerous as hell.

Tim
Tim
7 years ago
Reply to  Spffysux

Actually the research is clear – driving too fast is the killer, even if everyone seams to be doing it. However, your statement is a favorite excuse for drivers who don’t want to slow down. Here is better excuse – Sorry I killed your dad, but you can’t expect someone as important as me to slow down.

Spiffy
7 years ago
Reply to  Spffysux

sounds like you’re talking about highway speed differentials…

here’s the first link that came up: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/04156/
conclusion: it makes no difference in safety…

so I did what you said and I’m standing by my original statement…

Dan A
Dan A
7 years ago
Reply to  Spffysux

Your name is Spffysux? What a coincidence!

Chasing Backon
Chasing Backon
7 years ago

I think the state should move the decimal point one place to the right for all moving violations and double the points on your license to make getting a ticket a bigger reminder to people that driving safely helps everyone. Many people would complain and whine, but speeding and distracted driving still risk my sons life daily and until the penalties are stiffer and enforcement more rigorous, nothing will change.

I would hope that moving the decimal point one place to the right would help the police pay for the necessary enforcement and educate people to their inappropriate activities. One can dream

Matt S.
Matt S.
7 years ago

What do people think of mandatory sentencing for someone that kills a pedestrian via an automobile. Or is there anything like this already in place?

Spiffy
7 years ago
Reply to  Matt S.

there are increased fines when a vulnerable user is involved, but no, the penalties are not enough for killing people with your car…

http://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/811.135