SCHOT Roundtable Reports

MINNESOTA

April 2007

TOWARD ZERO DEATHS

Minnesota’s Toward Zero Deaths program is a multi-agency partnership that includes representatives from the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Minnesota State Patrol, Federal Highway Administration, Minnesota Department of Health, the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota, and other local safety partners, including counties and cities. This program is the umbrella program to all safety initiatives. The TZD Program Committee meets monthly. Each quarter they host a TZD Partner Breakfast with guest speakers on different safety topics and each year they host an annual conference. Last year (November, 2006) the conference had over 500 people in attendance

FATALITIES and FATALITY RATE TRENDS

The TZD/CHSP goal established in 2003 was to reduce traffic fatalities to 500 or less by 2008 from an average of 626 annual deaths. In 2006, Minnesota suffered 492 traffic deaths – 67 fewer than the previous year, the lowest number since 1945, and a continuation of a three-year decline. Since 2003 (when we had 655 fatalities), the number of deaths has dropped by nearly 25%. Our fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled is under .9 – one of the lowest rates in the nation.

The biggest change Minnesota made in the past three years was to insist on developing closer partnerships across the 4 Es (enforcement, engineering, education, and emergency trauma care). Mn/DOT and its Toward Zero Deaths partners are looking at a new goal of fewer than 400 by 2010.

COMPREHENSIVE HIGHWAY SAFETY PLAN (CHSP)

The initial Minnesota Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan (CHSP) was finalized December 31, 2004. The Plan presented a comprehensive, systematic, data driven, and stakeholder-involved process to accomplish this objective. The CHSP is being updated to become Minnesota’s SHSP. The purpose of the update is to:

  • Attain compliance with requirements of the SAFETEA-LU -- which was passed after the initial CHSP was written.
  • Provide an overview and coordination with other safety plans and programs within the state – including the TZD program, Minnesota Statewide Heavy Vehicle Safety Plan, ITS Safety Plan.
  • Review most recent crash data (2001 to 2005)to verify that the Critical Emphasis Areas (CEAs) and Critical Strategies are appropriate focus areas.
  • Provide Mn/DOT Districts and Minnesota county highway departments assistance in prioritization and deployment of safety countermeasures within their jurisdiction.
  • Define a process for updating, monitoring and reviewing the CHSP and the priorities established.

HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (HSIP)

Each Area Transportation Partner (ATP) is responsible for developing a safety program and selecting safety projects based on the SHSP. Each ATP was given a HSIP programming “goal” based on the fatal crashes in that ATP. Because over half of the fatalities occur on the local system, about 50% of the HSIP money should be used to fund local projects. It is anticipated that the non-metro ATPs will select more pro-active projects.

CENTRAL SAFETY FUND

In addition to the HSIP funds, Mn/DOT,in partnership with DPS, establisheda Central Safety Fund to further fund projects aimed at reducing fatal crashes. These funds were used for three significant projects in 2006 and 2007: 1) County CHSP Solicitation, 2) Speed Management Project, and 3) Cable Median Barrier.

1) CountyCHSP Solicitation

In 2005, Mn/DOT established a program to grant $2 million dollars to assist counties in deploying low cost, systematic, proactive safety improvements. In 2007 an additional $4.15 million was awarded to 37 counties each receiving a maximum of $150,000. Types of projects funded include: Wider Shoulders/Enhanced Pavement Markings/Edge line rumblestripes, Intersection Lighting, Enhanced Signing, Guardrail Upgrades, Geometric Improvements, Road safety audit

2)Statewide Speed Management Project

In September of 2005 Mn/DOT raised the speed limit on roughly 823 miles of two-lane two-way roadways and 27 miles of Metro freeway to 60 MPH and launched a $2.5 million dollar speed limit enforcement project. The goals of the project were to improve safety on interstates and expressways that saw a significant increase in fatalities subsequent to the 1997 posted speed limit increases. The University of Minnesota conducted the project evaluation. They found 12 percent fewer drivers in the Metro area and 30 percent fewer drivers in Greater Minnesota going 10 or more miles per hour over the posted limit.The second year of the Speed Management Project will begin in the spring of 2007 in an effort to continue to educate the public that the posted speed is the speed limit.

3)Cable Median Barrier

The table below outlines the number of miles to date of cable barrier that have been installed and the number of miles that are planned. These projects have been funded through the Central Safety Fund and the ATP’s HSIP Funds. Projects selection was based on crash data, traffic volume and existing median width following AASHTO guidance.

Cable Median Barrier

Miles Currently Installed / Miles Funded 2007/08 / Miles * Planned unfunded / Total planned
Total / 38.9 / 52.6 / 154.6 / 246.2

* These sections are potential candidates for barrier installation on Interstates only. Further investigation on Trunk Highways is also planned.

BEHAVIORAL PROGRAMS/Other

  • We mobilized out DWI enforcement teams across the state and collared a record number of impaired drivers in 2006 (more than 42,000, up more than 13%). We focused our DWI enforcement efforts in the 13 counties that had the highest numbers pf alcohol-related traffic fatalities and serious injuries.
  • Our new statewide trauma care system is poised to add to our progress. This will be the first year in which hospitals will be formally designated as Level III or IV trauma centers; when fully implemented in 2009, it is estimated that the trauma care system could contribute a 9% reduction in traffic deaths.

Minnesota Safety Facts

Annual
Fatalities / Fatality Rate / % Seat Belt Usage / % Unbuckled Fatalities / % Alcohol Fatalities / % Speed Fatalities
2005 / 559 / .99 / 84 % / 51% / 35 % / 28 %
2006 / 492 / 0.85 / 83 %

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