“Blue” County

1. “Blue” County Community Traffic Safety Meeting May XX, 2007

2. Meeting Agenda • Introductions • Highway safety overview at the national and state level • “Blue” County Crash Statistics • CHSP and TZD efforts in MN • Local safety initiatives • Blue County Highway Department • Local Law Enforcement • Emergency Medical Services • Education, Safe Communities, others present • Summary and conclusions • Next steps

3. 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 2005, 43,443 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

5. In 2005 87,813 total traffic crashes reported 559 people died 37,686 people injured $1.7 billion estimated cost On an average day 241 crashes 1.5 deaths 103 people injured $4,565,139 daily cost Highway Safety in Minnesota

6. 2005 Minnesota crashes • 965 bicycle crashes • 938 pedestrian crashes • One-third of all crashes involved one vehicle • 1 of every 3 fatalities was < 25 years of age • 1 of every 8 fatalities was a SUV occupant • 2 of 3 fatalities occurred in rural areas (< 5,000 pop.) Source: MN 2005 Crash Facts

8. Contributing factors in MN crashes • Speed • Failure to wear seat belts • Drinking and driving • Driver inattention • Inexperienced younger drivers

9. State of Minnesota Minnesota Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan (CHSP) Toward Zero Deaths Program (TZD)

10. Minnesota Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan • The MN CHSP 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

11. 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

12. Critical Strategies (Four E’s) • Engineering • Enforcement • Education • Emergency medical response and care

13. 15 Critical Strategies • Engineering • 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 • 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 • Communications and marketing task force to raise public awareness • Revise and enhance driver education • Emergency Medical Response and Care • Implement a statewide Trauma System • Administrative • 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

14. 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 ofengineering, enforcement, education, emergency services, research activities and community involvement.

15. 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

16. Cost of Motor Vehicle Crashes2005 – Blue County Insert specific Blue County Data from DPS Crash Facts Report

17. Crash Analysis • Who is involved in these crashes? (M/F, age groups) • What types of crashes are occurring? Fatal/Injury, ROR/Intersection/Rear end • When are the crashes occurring? Time of day, day of week, monthly trend • Where are crashes occurring? Road types or locations • Why are crashes occurring? Known contributing factors (speed, alcohol, belts, inattentiveness)

18. County Engineer • Discuss safety initiatives

19. Each discipline discuss safety initiatives • Enforcement • Emergency medical response and care • Education - Safe community efforts or high school drivers education • Local officials • Others

20. Discussion Is there a way we can work better together to improve traffic safety in our community? Next steps?

21. Share Contact Information Thank you.