Beaumaster: Traffic Safety Stats Better, But Work Never Ends

The numbers are in for 2011 traffic safety and Rice County achieved the lowest numbers in 20 years in all categories:

Total Crashes: 653

Fatal crashes: 2

Serious Injury: 14

DWIs: 268

As in golf, the lower the numbers the better you have done. Two deaths are still two too many and our ultimate goal is zero deaths on our roadways. Recognizing the milestone requires reflection on the goal of zero deaths and the road traveled to date towards achieving that goal.

Traffic crashes in Minnesota claimed the lives of , according to preliminary reports from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) Office of Traffic Safety. Those deaths from crashes on our roads in Minnesota denote an appalling number of lives lost due to intoxication, inattentiveness and human error. However, the figure also represents a 38 percent reduction in deaths since 2001 and a fourth consecutive annual decline in fatalities. Here in Rice County we have witnessed a steady decline in the number of deaths and injuries on our roads as well, and can hope to observe zero deaths in 2012.

Each crash prevented corresponds to an individual and/or families not suffering the devastation caused by a death or serious injury. The lower numbers reduce the stress and strain on our emergency system, first responders and law enforcement, all of whom must take action in each incident and absorb the tragedy before them at the scene of a crash. All of us who drive in Rice County can take some credit for the success in reducing the number of deaths on our roads. Our driving behavior propels the progress in lowering deaths and injuries on the roads. The lower deaths and injuries numbers correlate with seat belt compliance hitting a record high 93 percent. It is not coincidental that with the decline in alcohol-related fatal and injury crashes we also see DWI arrests continue to drop. Fewer people choosing to drink and drive results in fewer accidents and arrests for DWI.

We can also thank our legislators who supported traffic safety legislation, such as the primary seat belt law; enhanced enforcement coupled with education efforts; State, county and local engineering improvements; and efficient emergency trauma response. Safer vehicles may also account for some of the trend, but in the end the driver of the vehicle makes a difference.

My office has and will continue to promote strong DWI enforcement and sanctions. Holding individuals accountable and the continued effort for treatment and rehabilitation will support the trend of fewer alcohol-related incidents in 2012. Preventing drunk driving has the greatest impact on our road safety and each individual must make sober driving their responsibility to society and themselves. The Ignition Interlock system, which is connected to a vehicle starter and requires the driver to provide a breath sample below 0.02 alcohol concentration in order for the vehicle to start, provides an additional tool to prevent drunk driving.

Rice County participates in a traffic safety initiative named “Toward Zero Deaths” (TZD), an effective program sponsored by the Rice County Safe Communities Coalition, which is made up of many dedicated individuals, agencies and organizations. A primary vision of the TZD program is to create a safe driving culture in Rice County and throughout Minnesota in which motorists support a goal of zero road fatalities by practicing and promoting safe and smart driving behavior. TZD focuses on the application of four strategic areas to reduce crashes — education, enforcement, engineering and emergency trauma response. The partners involved have worked in these areas to improve the safety of our roads and the effort has driven our numbers down drastically. Thank you all for your efforts.

Lastly, I say “Thank you” to every driver who made the effort to buckle up, be attentive and alert, and not drink and drive. You make the difference between life and death each day.

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