Traffic fatalities in Portland declined for the second straight year in 2025, reaching the lowest level the city has recorded since 2018, according to the Portland Bureau of Transportation.
A total of 39 people died in traffic crashes last year, representing a 38% decrease compared with the average number of deaths over the previous four years. The figure also marks a significant drop from 2023, when 69 fatalities were recorded.
Pedestrians accounted for more than half of the deaths in 2025, with 20 fatalities. However, that number has steadily fallen since 2022, when 28 pedestrians were killed, followed by 24 in 2023 and 22 in 2024.
City officials also noted a major decline in fatalities in east Portland, an area known for some of the city’s most dangerous roads and intersections. Eleven people died in crashes there last year, a roughly 56% decrease compared with the previous four-year average and the first time since 2018 that deaths east of Interstate 205 fell below 20.
Police reported making 311 traffic-related arrests in 2025, including 222 for driving under the influence. Officers also issued 7,546 citations during the year. Authorities said there were no DUI-related traffic deaths during major holiday periods, when such incidents often increase.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said the city will continue pursuing its Vision Zero strategy, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths through road improvements and enforcement efforts.
Despite the progress, officials emphasized that every traffic death is preventable and said work remains to further improve road safety.
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