Minnesota Department of Transportation
Project: Minnesota's Toward Zero Deaths Program
Category: Safety
Project Summary
Toward Zero Deaths is a multi-agency partnership that weaves together a complex coalition of representatives from the Minnesota’s Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, State Patrol, Department of Health, the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota, the Federal Highway Administration and other local safety partners, including counties and cities.
TZD’s mission is "To drive Minnesota toward zero deaths on our roads, using Education, Enforcement, Engineering, and Emergency Services." TZD was initiated to provide renewed focus to the state’s safety programs. Momentum for this program was built over a period of 2-3 years of discussion between Mn/DOT and DPS on ways to enhance collaboration. Annual TZD “4E†conferences are held and performance goals are set. Effective cooperation, and not necessarily budget commitments, drives this effort forward.
Two things separate TZD’s efforts from typical safety efforts: the strong collaborative ethic forged between the agencies, and a strict adherence to pursuing data-driven solutions.
Results
TZD’s results have exceeded our initial goals and expectations. We have:
- Met the goal of fewer than 500 fatalities by 2008 two years early in 2006
- Set a new goal of fewer than 400 fatalities by 2010
- Continued downward trend for traffic fatalities and serious injuries
- Achieved a 20% reduction in fatalities since 2001 (from 568 to 455)
- Achieved a 45% reduction in serious injury crashes since 2001 (from 2274 to 1248)
- An annual fatality rate (fatalities per 100 million VMT) below 1.0 for the last four years
In addition to using education, enforcement, engineering and emergency service improvements to improve safety and reduce fatalities/serious injuries, TZD has pursued a legislative strategy to alter driving behaviors:
- The legal limit for driving impaired is .08 Blood Alcohol Content became effective on September 1, 2005.
- The Statewide Trauma System established in July 2005. The goal is to decrease injured patients’ time to definitive care by ensuring patients’ medical needs are appropriately matched with hospitals’ resources. All hospitals (65+) participating by summer 2010.
- Graduated drivers license (GDL) including nighttime (midnight to 5 AM) and passenger (only one under age 20) restrictions and cell phone restrictions effective on August 1, 2008
- No texting while driving effective on August 1, 2008
- Booster seat law strengthened so children both under age 8 and up to 4-feet 9-inches must be properly restrained in a child safety seat or booster seat effective on July 1, 2009
- Passing of Ignition Interlock is a state-wide pilot that uses the latest technology to prevent repeat alcohol-impaired drivers from being able to start their cars
- Primary Seatbelt Legislation meaning drivers and passengers in all seating positions must be buckled up effective June 9, 2009
TZD’s focus on both fatalities and serious injuries recognizes the social and economic impact of traffic crashes in our communities. Every life we help to save through our systematic use of the four E’s is a victory for our state and our citizens.