School is coming back into session, and you’re gonna wanna keep your pedal off the metal. The Corvallis Police Department has announced a Back-to-School Traffic Safety Blitz running from September 3 to September 12. Think keeping kids safe. Alternatively, think super expensive traffic tickets if you need to.
Either way, slow it on down, be super careful of small hard to see pedestrians. Corvallis Police officers will be assigned to all elementary, middle and high schools within the city limits. CPD says the safety blitz supports the goals of the Safe Routes to School Committee, a coalition of agencies striving to improve the safety of school children.
“Officers will be strictly enforcing the school zone speed law, as well as the laws requiring drivers to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks and for crossing guards. Officers will also be targeting other safety violations, to include distracted driving cell phone usage,” says a release from the department.
The school zones speed is 20 mph when the zone is posted and when any of the following occur:
- When a flashing light indicates children may be present; or
- 7 am to 5 pm on a day when school is in session (if the school zone does not have a flashing light); or
- When “children are present.” Children are considered to be present at any time and on any day when there are children in a crosswalk, waiting at a crosswalk or when a crossing guard is present.
According to the Oregon Department of Transportation, a vehicle traveling 20 mph will take 64 feet to stop (about five lengths of the average car). A vehicle traveling 25 mph (just five miles faster!) will take 86 feet to stop, which is nearly seven lengths of the average car.
Upcoming local blood drives
Book a time to give blood by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS. The life you save could be someone’s that you love. Here’s the list of upcoming blood drives:
9/3/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., NW Hills Community Church, 3300 NW Walnut Blvd
9/4/2025: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., First Alternative Co-Op, 1007 SE 3rd Street
9/5/2025: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., First Baptist Church of Corvallis, 125 NW 10th St.
9/8/2025: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Life Community Church, 4900 NW Hwy 99 W
9/9/2025: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis, 1112 NW Circle Blvd
9/10/2025: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis, 2945 NW Circle Blvd
9/10/2025: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., LDS – Corvallis Stake, 4141 NW Harrison Blvd.
9/11/2025: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Oregon Department of Human Services, 4170 SW Research Way, Suite 120
9/11/2025: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., First Presbyterian Church – Dennis Hall, 114 SW 8th St
9/15/2025: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 2650 NW Highland Dr.
Philomath
8/26/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Fire and Rescue, 1035 Main Street
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