“Blue” County
Community Traffic Safety Meeting
July XX, 2008
Meeting Agenda
Introductions
Highway safety overview at the national and state level
“Blue” County Crash Statistics
SHSP and TZD efforts in MN
Local safety initiatives
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Blue County Highway Department
Local Law Enforcement
Emergency Medical Services
Education, Safe Communities, others present
Summary and conclusions
Next steps
National Perspective
The U.S. roadway system's positive trends have
plateaued
The number of annual roadway fatalities had remained
virtually unchanged (40,000-42,000)
In 2006, 42,642 people died in motor vehicle traffic
crashes
An average of 119 people died each day in motor
vehicle crashes — one every 12 minutes.
Economic impact of traffic crashes (2000) = $230.6
billion
Persons Killed in Traffic Crashes
60,000
1,060
51,093
1,024
50,000
45,000
1,100
52,627
875
900
42,013
44,525
42,589
40,000
43,443
777
National
1,000
47,087
980
800
39,250
35,000
615
644
700
650
655
30,000
600
538
558
25,000
568
494
20,000
500
400
15,000
National
300
10,000
Minnesota
200
5,000
100
0
0
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
Year
FIGURE 1.1
ANNUAL TRAFFIC FATALITY TOTALS NATIONALLY AND IN MINNESOTA
1995
2000
2005
Minnesota
55,000
1,200
Highway Safety in Minnesota
In 2006
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78,745 total traffic
crashes reported
494 people died
35,025 people injured
$1.5 billion estimated
cost
On an average day
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216 crashes
1.4 deaths
96 people injured
$4,190,169 daily cost
2006 Minnesota crashes
944 bicycle crashes
915 pedestrian crashes
One-third of all crashes involved one vehicle
1 of every 3 fatalities was < 25 years of age
1 of every 11 fatalities was a SUV occupant
2 of 3 fatalities occurred in rural areas (< 5,000 pop.)
Source: MN 2006 Crash Facts
Figure 1.2
National and Minnesota Traffic Fatality Rates
657
Safety Goal
All Others
Critical Emphasis Areas
Driver Safety Awareness
A 19% Reduction in the
Number of Traffic Fatalities
559
Ran-Off the Road
494
Head-On & Across Median
Aggressive Drivers
Young Drivers
Signalized Intersections
Unsignalized Intersections
500
400
Alcohol Related
Unbelted
2002
Figure 1.3
Minnesota’s Statewide Safety Goal
2005
2006
2010
Goal
The 2008 safety
goal has already
been achieved.
Contributing factors in MN crashes
Speed
Failure to wear seat
belts
Drinking and driving
Driver inattention
Inexperienced
younger drivers
State of Minnesota
Minnesota Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP)
Toward Zero Deaths Program (TZD)
Minnesota Strategic Highway
Safety Plan
The MN SHSP is a cooperative effort by
the MN Departments of Transportation and
Public Safety
VISION: To reduce fatal and life changing
crashes on Minnesota roadways by
aggressively implementing systematic and
proactive safety strategies with an ultimate
goal of moving Toward Zero Deaths
Five Critical Emphasis Areas
Increasing Seat Belt Use and Reducing Impaired Driving
Improving the Design and Operation of Highway
Intersections
Lane Departure
Reducing Head-On and Across Median Crashes
Keeping Vehicles on the Roadway
Minimizing the Consequence of Leaving the Roadway
Young Drivers and Curbing Aggressive Driving
Increasing Driver Safety Awareness, and Improving
Information and Decision Support Systems
Critical Strategies (Four E’s)
Engineering
Enforcement
Education
Emergency medical response and care
15 Critical Strategies
Engineering
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Cost-effective safety improvements for lane departure and intersection crashes
Assist local agencies in implementation of cost-effective improvements
Maintenance of roadway facilities, roadside hardware, and removing hazardous objects
Roadway Safety Audits at network level
Enforcement
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Adequate resources to perform traffic enforcement
Statewide primary seat belt law
Automated enforcement (cameras) for red-light running and aggressive driving
Stricter graduated licensing system
Cooperation between courts and law enforcement to prevent reduced/eliminated charges
Sobriety saturations and targeted enforcement
Education
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Communications and marketing task force to raise public awareness
Revise and enhance driver education
Emergency Medical Response and Care
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Implement a statewide Trauma System
Administrative
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Establish a Governor’s Traffic Safety panel
Legislature Action Committee to lobby for GDL/improved curriculum/increased liability/ court
involvement
Adequate staffing, equipment and other resources for information systems
Toward Zero Deaths (TZD)
VISION:
To reduce fatalities and injuries on
Minnesota’s roads to zero.
MISSION:
To move the State of Minnesota
toward zero traffic deaths on our
roads through the application of
engineering, enforcement,
education, emergency services,
research activities and community
involvement.
Blue County Crash Profile
Purpose
 Analysis of crashes for five year period to
identify locations with greater than expected
numbers of fatal and injury crashes and to
better understand the causes of and the
solutions to these crashes
 Compare Blue County crash statistics to
Minnesota State averages
Cost of Motor Vehicle Crashes
20XX – Blue County
Insert specific Blue County Data from DPS Crash
Facts Report
Crash Analysis
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Who is involved in these crashes?
(M/F, age groups)
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What types of crashes are occurring?
Fatal/Injury, ROR/Intersection/Rear end
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When are the crashes occurring?
Time of day, day of week, monthly trend
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Where are crashes occurring?
Road types or locations
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Why are crashes occurring?
Known contributing factors (speed, alcohol,
belts, inattentiveness)
County Engineer
Discuss safety initiatives
Each discipline discuss safety
initiatives
Enforcement
Emergency medical response and care
Education - Safe community efforts or high
school drivers education
Local officials
Others
Discussion
Is there a way we can work better
together to improve traffic safety
in our community?
Next steps?
Share Contact
Information
Thank you.