A yellow and black circle reading "Oregon and SW Washington Families for Safe Streets"

Oregon and SW Washington Families for Safe Streets is comprised of victims of traffic violence and families whose loved ones have been killed or severely injured by aggressive or reckless driving and dangerous conditions in Oregon and SW Washington. Our local group is modeled after the original Families for Safe Streets group, banded together in New York City in 2014.

“We bear witness to our pain and suffering to press for the elimination of fatalities and injuries on our streets. Through our stories and advocacy, we seek cultural and physical changes on our streets and the rapid implementation of Vision Zero. We envision communities where pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles safely co-exist, and children and adults can travel freely without risk of harm – where no loss of life in traffic is acceptable.”

Oregon and SW Washington Families for Safe Streets began organizing in Fall 2015, with support and guidance from The Street Trust and Oregon Walks – though their members make all decisions regarding their initiatives.

To get involved, join our Facebook group or contact Families for Safe Streets by email at [email protected]

Our Project 

Our Neighbor Was Killed Here: raising awareness of Portland’s road fatality epidemic.

Families for Safe Streets are placing signs at every fatal crash site in Portland The objective is to raise awareness about Portland’s road fatality epidemic. The signs are a visual reminder of  how pervasive and wide-spread this problem of traffic violence is. This project also aims to provide resources to: 1) those who would like to learn more and get involved in advocating for safer streets in Portland, and 2) those who have lost a loved one in a crash or who have themselves survived a fatal crash.

Have You Lost a Loved One or Survived a Serious Crash? 

No one should have to endure the physical, emotional, and spiritual trauma of traffic violence alone. Families for Safe Streets (FSS) provides a range of support services to crash victims and survivors that is available to anyone in the United States. FSS was founded in 2014 by the families of loved ones who were killed or injured in crashes in New York City, and is now a growing national movement with a mission to confront the preventable epidemic of traffic violence by advocating for life-saving changes and providing support to those who have been impacted by crashes.

Get Involved: Advocacy and Volunteer Opportunities 

The Our Neighbor Was Killed Here signage project is a partnership of four organizations that have dedicated resources to improving road safety:

  • National Families for Safe Streets – confronting the preventable epidemic of traffic violence by advocating for life-saving changes and providing support to those who have been impacted by crashes.
  • BikeLoud PDX – ensuring Portland follows its own goal to make the city a place where one quarter of all trips are by bike.
  • Oregon Walks – dedicated to promoting walking and making the conditions for walking safe, convenient, and attractive throughout Oregon.
  • The Street Trust – advocating for multimodal transportation options that prioritize safety, accessibility, equity, and climate justice.

Learn More about Portland’s Road Fatality Epidemic

Additional Educational Resources

  • Sign up to host a free Oregon Friendly Driver training for your business or organization.
  • Read about Portland’s Traffic and Transportation Class here  and view all ten 2022 Portland Traffic and Transportation Classes on YouTube here.

Resource Guide

We are currently working on a local version of a post-crash resource guide to support people impacted by traffic violence navigate the aftermath of a crash. Please reach out if you’d like to be involved.