Top Causes of Car Accidents in Portland: From I-5 to Inner SE

Portland has a reputation as a walkable, bike-friendly city that puts safety first. But even with safety prioritized in its infrastructure, Portland still sees a surprising amount of traffic accidents every year. There are thousands of crashes reported in the Portland metropolitan area every single year, and drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike all face serious risks on the city’s roads.

Some of the city’s accident hotspots are found on its highways and in certain parts of the city’s downtown. Portland has identified its High Crash Network, which refers to the fact that “the 30 streets and intersections with the most serious crashes—make up 8% of Portland streets but accounted for an average of 67% of traffic deaths.” Understanding why these streets are so dangerous can make it easier for Portland residents to stay safe and protect themselves. If you’ve been injured in a crash and you’re wondering if you’re entitled to compensation, our car accident attorneys are here to help. Call Philbrook Law, Accident and Injury Lawyers today.

I-5 and the Terwilliger Curves

I-5 runs the entire length of Oregon and is easily Portland’s busiest freeway. Each day, more than 140,000 vehicles cross the Marquam Bridge and go through the downtown corridor. One of the most dangerous stretches of I-5 is the Terwilliger Curves. This is a 1.7-mile stretch of I-5 and is widely known as one of the most dangerous roads in the entire state. Media sources have called it a “commuter’s nightmare” because the road’s curve changes five times in just over one mile. When you add in speeding drivers, despite the fact that the road cannot safely be navigated above the speed limit, it becomes incredibly dangerous for all vehicle occupants.

It’s important to note that there have been changes made to this stretch of I-5, including reflective road striping, flashing warning lights, and more extensive policing of the area. However, accidents are still an issue, and it largely comes down to speeding.

Inner southeast arterials

Once you get off the freeway, you could still find yourself in unsafe driving conditions—especially if you end up on one of the high-crash roads found on Portland’s inner southeast. These roads, all of which are part of Portland’s High Crash Network, include:

• SE Division Street: This road’s needs have been addressed over and over again with safety projects, largely due to the high number of pedestrian crashes that occur each year. Despite efforts to make this road safer, accident numbers remain incredibly high.
• Powell Boulevard: Powell Boulevard sees heavy commuter and freight traffic, creating the ideal circumstances for dangerous collisions. When you have commuters rushing to work and large, heavy freight vehicles that can’t stop as quickly, collisions are basically inevitable.
• 82nd Avenue: 82nd Avenue is known for its dangerous blocks, with the city of Portland outright recognizing it as such. 82nd Avenue has six of Portland’s top 30 high-crash intersections, including its intersections with NE Fremont, NE Glisan, E Burnside, SE Division, SE Powell, and SE Flavel.

Why are these roads such a chronic issue in Portland? Arterial roads that prioritize speed are dangerous in busy urban neighborhoods like those found in Portland’s inner southeast. When you have four or more lanes on each side, pedestrians and bicyclists are essentially risking their lives every time they have to cross. The frequent intersections found on these arterials ramp up the likelihood of a risk, as each intersection is a new danger zone where you’re at risk of encountering a distracted driver who doesn’t see that the light has changed or one who thinks they can squeeze through at the last second.

Most common causes of collisions in Portland

While dangerous road design and heavy traffic lay the groundwork for high accident rates, they aren’t the only factors at play. As is the case across the country, most car accidents in Portland are ultimately the result of human error. Some of the most commonly reported causes of local accidents include:

• Speeding: Speeding is one of the single most dangerous driving behaviors, but it’s also so common that it’s basically assumed that everyone will drive at least 5 MPH over the speed limit. When you’re traveling a congested highway or busy downtown area, driving even a little faster than the speed limit or the flow of traffic could put you in harm’s way.
• Tailgating: Following too closely is a significant issue in Portland and other major cities. People often tailgate to try to pressure other drivers to drive more quickly, to prevent other drivers from switching lanes in front of them, or due to pressure from drivers behind them. Following too closely leaves little to no room to react to sudden slowdowns in traffic or sudden obstacles on the road.
• Failure to yield: Drivers in Portland have a very bad habit of failing to yield. This may happen at intersections when drivers try to get through on a yellow light, only to run the red.
• Impaired driving: Drunk driving is reckless and completely preventable. Late-night hours and weekends tend to see spikes in impaired driving accidents, not just in Portland, but across the entire country.
• Distracted driving: Public safety groups across the United States have been looking for solutions to the nation’s distracted driving problem for decades. Unfortunately, with more and more technology coming out, distracted driving rates have not improved.

Changes in Portland

The good news is that the High Crash Network has projects going on across Portland to bring down accident rates. Recently completed projects include street lighting on 82nd Avenue and the Beech and Ash crossings on 82nd Avenue. Projects still in progress include safer crossings at NE Killingsworth and improvements at SW Fourth Avenue.

Injured in a Portland car accident? Let’s talk

If you’ve been injured in a Portland car crash, don’t wait any longer to talk to an attorney. We can help you explore your legal options and take action. Call us or reach out online now.