Oregon Celebrates Safest Thanksgiving Since 1978

Thanksgiving may be over, but we’re still counting blessings.

The Thanksgiving holidays, traditionally the most traveled and deadliest holiday period of the year, went by almost peacefully on Oregon roads this year. According to preliminary law enforcement information, the 2009 holiday was the safest it�s been since Oregon Department of Transportation started keeping track in 1978, with only one recorded traffic death.

According to Salem-News.com, the single death occurred the day after Thanksgiving, November 27, around 8:20 PM. A 60-year-old Milwaukie woman was killed after being hit by a van while crossing McLoughlin Boulevard outside of a crosswalk.

Also over Thanksgiving, OSP arrested 53 drunk drivers, issued more than 1,200 speed-related citations, responded to more than 135 crashes, and assisted 465 disabled motorists.

The Thanksgiving holiday reporting period runs from 6 PM, November 25, to 11:59 PM, November 29. At 102 total hours, it is the longest major holiday period of the year.

Before Thanksgiving, the National Safety Commission issued a traffic safety alert, warning that, for drivers, the most dangerous period of the year was approaching. More people travel than during any other holiday, and 90 percent of them do so by car. The NSC predicted, if previous year statistics hold true, this Thanksgiving weekend will also be the deadliest holiday period of the year.

We are very glad that, at least in Oregon, they were wrong.

We would like to thank Oregon State Police, which mounted enhanced enforcement efforts throughout the state, and we would like to commend all the Oregon drivers who made an extra effort to drive safely this year. Every one of you made a difference.