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From: Sgt. Jacalyn Sticha
Minnesota State Patrol
In 2011, Minnesota saw a fourth consecutive annual drop in road fatalities and the lowest death count on record since 1944, when 356 were killed. The deaths include 120 unbelted motorists and 111 alcohol-impaired crash victims.
View the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) Office of Traffic Safety’s annual detailed summary of traffic crashes, Minnesota Motor Vehicle Crash Facts 2011 online.
Some key facts from the 2011 report:
The state’s 2011 fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled is less than one person (0.65, the state’s record low). The U.S. fatality rate is 1.09. In 2009, (most recent national data), Minnesota was third behind Massachusetts and Connecticut for the lowest fatality rate in the U.S.
There were 56.7 billion vehicle miles traveled in Minnesota last year, less than 1 percent lower than the 56.8 billion in 2010.
The 368 deaths also marks a 44 percent decrease from 10 years ago: 2002 — 657 deaths; 2003 — 655; 2004 — 567; 2005 — 559; 2006 — 494; 2007 — 510; 2008 — 455; 2009 — 421; 2010 — 411.
To-date in 2012, there have been 114 road deaths compared to 111 deaths at this time in 2011.
DPS traffic safety officials say smarter, safer driving is a critical factor for the continuing decline in road deaths. Seat belt compliance is at a record high, and alcohol-impaired crashes (involving drivers at 0.08 alcohol-concentration and above) have dropped in recent years. DWI arrests have also fallen, indicating that more drivers are thinking twice about drinking and driving.
Important legislation has also factored, including the ban on texting/emailing/web access and the primary seat belt law and booster seat law requirement for children.
Crash Facts 2011 details crashes by vehicle type, contributing factors, driver age and gender, and occurrence of crashes by county, as well as cities with populations of 2,500 or more.
Minnesota Motor Vehicle Crash Facts 2011 Highlights
72,117 crashes.
368 fatalities involve motorists (271); motorcyclists (42); pedestrians (40); bicyclists (5); ATV riders (8); and farm equipment occupants (2).
30,295 injuries, of which 1,159 were severe, life-altering injuries.
261 deaths (71 percent) occurred in the 80 counties of greater Minnesota, while 107 deaths (29 percent) occurred in the Twin Cities’ seven-county metro area.
Driver-distraction related crashes resulted in 72 deaths.
Speed-related crashes resulted in 83 deaths.
The most common factors in 2011 crashes are in order of frequency: driver inattention/distraction; failure to yield right-of-way, and illegal or unsafe speed.
Seat Belts
Of the 271 vehicle occupants killed, just 126 were belted; 48 percent of those not belted were ejected. Impaired Driving
Alcohol-impaired crash deaths (crashes involving drivers or pedestrians at 0.08 and higher) resulted in 111 deaths, down from 121 in 2010. Last year, 29,257 motorists were arrested for DWI, a 2 percent decrease from 2010 (29,918). One in seven Minnesota drivers has a DWI. Officials say drivers must plan ahead for a safe and sober ride to avoid drinking and driving.
Motorcycles
There were 42 rider deaths, down slightly from 45 in 2010. Motorcycle riders ages 40–64 accounted for 64 percent of rider deaths in 2011. DPS reports ridership is at an all-time high, underscoring the need for rider training, protective gear use, and for motorists to pay attention and look twice for riders.
Teenagers
There were 39 teenage deaths (ages 13–19) in 2011, a decrease from 47 deaths in 2010 — and down 48 percent from 75 teen deaths five years ago (2006). Teen drivers (16–19) were involved in 47 fatal crashes, resulting in 53 deaths.
Pedestrians
There were 40 pedestrian deaths in 2011, up from 36 in 2010. Of the 33 killed pedestrians tested for alcohol, 27 percent had alcohol-concentration levels of 0.08 or higher. Of the pedestrians killed or injured, 24 percent were crossing illegally. Bicyclists
There were five bicyclist deaths in 2011 and none were wearing helmets. There were nine rider deaths in 2010. Officials say bicyclists should plan a safe route, wear a helmet, reflective gear, and obey traffic signals and signs.
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