Getting the facts
What your coalition needs to know about crash data in your area
Gathering data is a crucial step toward reducing traffic injuries and deaths in your community. Even if individual members of your coalition are familiar with local traffic problems through personal experience or media coverage, it pays to do your homework and analyze the traffic crash and injury statistics maintained by the State of Minnesota. Doing so will give you a clear picture of what areas need the most improvement, so you won't waste your resources tackling less-important problems.
The Safe Communities Data Tool Kit was created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the University of Georgia to help local organizations find and understand data related to traffic crashes. Using templates that can be customized for your community, the Data Tool Kit tells you:
- Why you need to collect data
- What you need to collect
- How you can use it
- Your best sources of information
The Data Tool Kit also helps community groups identify their most important safety issues using the "Big 3" concept. This helps you set priorities for your coalition and avoid wasting resources on less-important problems.
The State of Minnesota has several resources to help you access and analyze traffic crash and injury data.
The Department of Public Safety's Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) publishes Crash Facts, a detailed annual report that summarizes all kinds of information related to crashes and injuries statewide. In addition, Crash Facts breaks out information on alcohol use, seat belts, motorcycles, school buses, pedestrians, and trains. Crash Facts is available on the Internet and in printed form.
In addition to Crash Facts, OTS also reports on additional findings related to seat belt use and alcohol impairment as factors in crashes.
OTS can provide access to several other sources of state and nationwide crash, injury, and fatality data.
For information on traffic volumes and vehicle characteristics, the Minnesota Department of Transportation' s Office of Transportation Data and Analysis maintains reports and maps that are available online.
Resources
Minnesota Department of Public Safety - Office of Traffic Safety
Many resources related to roadway safety and accident reduction, crash data and reports, and current and past issues of Minnesota Motor Vehicle Crash Facts
Minnesota Department of Transportation - Traffic Forcasting and Analysis
Provides data on current and future traffic levels, and information on the state’s roadway system
Safe Communities program Data Guide (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
Guidelines and tools for new coalitions analyzing traffic data
National Center for Statistics and Analysis (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
Nationwide information on traffic crashes and injuries