Driving Safety
Roads to and along the Oregon coast are often winding and full of curves. These general tips will help make your Oregon coast visit a safe one:
- Follow posted speed limits, especially those for curves in the road. Along the coast, the highest legal speed is 55 mph.
- Watch for log trucks and other vehicles entering the highway.
- Be alert for deer, elk and other animals on the road. These can appear with startling swiftness.
- During rainy weather or times of decreased visibility such as fog, slow down.
- Watch for road construction and slow down, not only for your own safety but that of road construction workers.
- Do not drink and drive. You endanger not only yourself and occupants of your car, but other drivers and pedestrians.
Winter Driving
With major winter storms making the news and attracting visitors to the Oregon coast, two key safety messages are being issued by the hospitality industry to make sure drivers complete their round-trips to the coast as well as safely enjoy the photogenic nature of winter’s ocean fury.
Winter driving provides very visible ice and snow challenges to anyone traveling through our higher elevations that are not so obvious on a trip to the Oregon coast. Many ignore driving challenges posed by wet pavement and standing water and far too many visitors place themselves in harm’s way trying to get that memorable shot of big surf here. Recent accidents are vivid reminders of both. We want to pass along a double-safety message for folks wanting to experience winter’s coastal splendor of the Pacific Ocean in motion.
We want our visitors making safe, round trips to and from Oregon’s Central Coast. This is an admittedly self-serving message. We want travelers to see our winter storms, visit our many indoor attractions, stay overnight at our lodging properties, enjoy our restaurants and shops and make return visits. We want you coming back, AGAIN.
OCVA’s traffic safety tips include the following pointers:
- Contact Oregon Department of Transportation for the latest conditions and construction on coastal corridor roads (e.g. Highway 101) as well as the access roads off the I-5 corridor (e.g. Highways 18, 20, 34). Call 1-800-977-6388.
- Give yourself plenty of time to travel – speed kills and wet pavement kills faster. Besides, the scenery’s more enjoyable when you take the time to see it.
- Know how your vehicle handles on wet roads and standing water. Hydroplaning can be real scary to someone not familiar with the vehicle they’re driving.
- Should your vehicle hydroplane, take your foot off the accelerator and let your vehicle come back in contact with the pavement. Then work your brake – lightly.
- Temporary high water areas may require some re-routing during your trip. Follow the marked routes and wait your turn. Rushing won’t get you here any faster. Remember to enjoy the scenery and your trip.
We want you to enjoy your visit and return to the Oregon coast often!