Press Releases

Download press releases on traffic safety programs in Minnesota. Releases are listed by title and ordered by date.

2012 Press Releases | 2011 Press Releases | 2010 Press Releases | 2009 Press Releases | 2008 Press Releases | 2007 Press Releases | 2006 Press Releases

2012

• 1/27/12: Added DWI Patrols Target 13 Counties in 2012
• 1/18/12: First 10 Road Deaths of 2012 — 8 Not Buckled Up
• 1/10/12: 2,573 Cuffed During Statewide December DWI Crackdown
• 1/9/12: New Youth Leadership Opportunity: MADD Minnesota’s Youth Advisory Council
• 1/4/12: Annual Traffic Deaths Fall Under 400 for First Time Since 1944
• 1/3/12: AAA Foundation challenges motorists to adopt responsible driving habits in 2012 (283 KB PDF)

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2011

• 11/29/11: 2011 Minnesota Thanksgiving Travel Period Could Be Safest on Record
• 11/16/11: Minnesota receives two national awards for roadway safety programs
• 11/15/11: State Tops 300 Traffic Fatalities for Year as Toward Zero Deaths Conference Convenes in Duluth
• 11/10/11: State's 20 Counties with Highest Percentage of Unbelted Deaths Mapped
• 10/18/11: Minnesota Teens Called on to Create "Buckle Up" TV Spots
• 10/13/11: More Than 400 Unbelted Deaths Over Past Three Years
• 10/11/11: Fear the Deer — Deadly, Autumn Road Hazard
• 10/07/11: Pedestrian, Bicyclist Deaths Down in 2011, But Darker Days Ahead Put Them at Risk
• 09/29/11: MnDOT commissioner calls for increased motorist vigilance following work zone crash
• 09/19/11: State's Children At Risk on the Road — Only Half of Kids Killed or Injured Are Properly Restrained
• 09/14/11: 1,787 Arrested for DWI During End-of-Summer Crackdown
• 09/02/11: Final 2010 Minnesota Drunk and Impaired Driving Report: 131 Killed — Lowest Annual Death Figure on Record
• 08/19/11: Minnesota Joins Nationwide DWI Crackdown Through Labor Day
• 08/16/11: 200 Killed on Minnesota Roads To-Date in 2011
• 08/08/11: Last Week Among State's Deadliest Periods of the Year on the Road
• 07/28/11: Motorcylist Deaths Up, Pass 20-Death Mark For Year
• 07/21/11: “DWI Enforcer All-Stars” Honored at Target Field as Extra Summertine DWI Patrols Continue
• 06/21/11: Final 2010 Crash Roport: 411 Killed on Minnesota Roads — Marking Another Drop in Deaths and Lowest Since 1944
• 06/16/11: Major DWI Enforcement on the Roads This Weekend
• 05/26/11: Stillwater Teens Again Win Traffic Safety TV Contest
• 05/25/11: Minnesota Hits 100 Road Deaths for the Year (83 KB PDF)
• 05/13/11: Start Seeing Motorcyclists—Three Riders Killed this Week (119 KB PDF)
• 05/11/11: Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths Partnership Announces New Traffic Safety Goal
• 05/11/11: Local Boys “Saved by the Belt” Launch Increased Seat Belt Enforcement Efforts: Southeastern Minnesota Law Enforcement and Toward Zero Deaths Safe Communities Join Forces
• 05/10/11: Voting Time for Teen Traffic Safety TV Spot
• 04/26/11: One Year Ago: 17 Deaths in Four Days — Seven Teens
• 04/20/11: Increased Enforcement to Take Action Against Texting, Driver Distraction
• 04/14/11: “I Got Caught” Expands To Teens and Seat Belts (50 KB PDF)
• 04/12/11: New TV Spots Put Texting and Driving in the Body Bag (95 KB PDF)
• 04/06/11: 158 DWI Arrests in March During Enhanced Patrols (139 KB PDF)
• 02/28/11: Memorial Website for Minnesota Crash Victims Launches
• 02/24/11: Nine Killed in Minnesota Traffic Crashes in One Week
• 02/01/11: Booster Seat Use Continues to Climb Resulting in Fewer Injuries
• 01/19/11: Pay Attention to This, Teens — Produce a Distracted DrivingTV Spot and Win $1,000
• 01/10/11: December DWI Campaign Results — 2,399 Arrested (129 KB PDF)
• 01/03/11: DPS Projects 2010 Minnesota Traffic Deaths to Match 2009 — Lowest Since 1944 (133 KB PDF)

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2010

• 12/15/10: 675 Arrested for DWI Midway Through Statewide Campaign (126 KB PDF)
• 12/03/10: DWI Patrols Are Coming To Town (166 KB PDF)
• 11/22/10: State Names 13 Counties Facing Increased DWI Patrols Through September
• 11/18/10: Seven Days, Eight Traffic Deaths in Minnesota (97 KB PDF)
• 11/12/10: Deer-Vehicle Crashes Peak in November — Don't Veer for Deer (149 KB PDF)
• 11/08/10: 13,302 Motorists Ticketed for Not Buckling Up in October
• 10/28/10: Halloween: A Nightmare for Impaired Drivers
• 10/21/10: Minnesota Regions, Counties are Mapped for Low Levels of Use Among Teen Traffic Deaths
• 10/19/10: More than 5,000 Motorists Ticketed Midway Through Statewide Seat Belt Enforcement Campaign (102 KB PDF)
• 10/14/10: Minnesota Belt Use Rate Continues to Hit Record Levels (130 KB PDF)
• 10/07/10: Deadly start to October: 21 road deaths in six days as seat belt enforcement campaign begins
• 09/23/10: Record-Low Number of Alcohol-Related Deaths in 2009 Highlights Annual Impaired Driving Facts Report (124 KB PDF)
• 09/20/10: Big Jump in Booster Seat Use Results in 1,00 Children Not Injured in Crashes Last Year (135 KB PDF)
• 09/13/10: 1,775 Arrested for DWI During End-of-Summer Crackdown
• 09/10/10: Teens to Focus the Lens on Distracted Driving in New TV Contest
• 09/02/10: DWI Crackdown Continues Through Labor Day as Governor Declares Friday "Designate a Sober Driver Day"
• 08/31/10: Extra "Move Over" Enforcement Marks 10-Year Anniversary of Death of State Trooper Ted Foss
• 08/20/10: Law enforcement to round up impaired drivers in end-of-summer DWI crackdown (134 KB PDF)
• 08/17/10: Pedestrian Fatalities hit the 20-death milestone for year (104 KB PDF)
• 08/13/10: It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Bert Blyleven – Traffic Safety Action-Man! (140 KB PDF)
• 08/10/10: July speed enforcement pulls over 27,628 speeders (114 KB PDF)
• 08/10/10: Troopers in Southwest Minnesota Focus On Impaired Drivers during the Upcoming Enforcement Project (75 KB PDF)
• 08/05/10: Distraction-free driving day: law enforcement turns focus to driver inattention
• 08/05/10: New texting and driving public service campaign showcases "Deadly Thumbs" and the texting "Techniques" (124 KB PDF)
• 08/02/10: Take action to stop distraction behind the wheel (103 KB PDF)
• 07/20/10: State on pace for lowest traffic fatalities since 1944 (24 KB PDF)
• 07/13/10: Speeding drivers on the radar for July enforcement (45 KB PDF)
• 07/06/10: June DWI Arrests: 125 busted in State's 13 "deadliest" counties for impaired driving (30 KB PDF)
• 07/01/10: DWI Enforcer All-Stars to be honored at Target Field (256 KB PDF)
• 06/30/10: Survey finds drivers mistakenly believe winter is most dangerous travel time (25 KB PDF)
• 06/17/10: 2009 Traffic Crash Report: MInnesota deaths lowest since 1944 (134 KB PDF)
• 05/27/10: Deadly 2009 Memorial Day weekend an alert for motorists (30 KB PDF)
• 05/24/10: Fasten your seat belts—statewide enforcement clicks-off today (37 KB PDF)
• 05/04/10: Vote Now For Best Teen-Produced Texting TV Spot (25 KB PDF)
• 04/27/10: State Hits 101 Road Deaths for the Year (25 KB PDF)
• 04/22/10: Prom Season An Alert To Legal-Age Alcohol Providers Of Serious Consequences (81 KB PDF)
• 04/15/10: A Heavy Foot and Aggressive Driving Will Mean a Lighter Wallet with Added Speed Patrols In 2010 (28 KB PDF)
• 04/09/10: AT&T Texting & Driving Campaign Urges Consumers That ‘It Can Wait’ (431 KB PDF)
• 04/07/10: 172 Arrested For DWI In March During Heightened DWI Patrols In State’s “13 Deadliest Counties” For Impaired Driving (17 KB PDF)
• 03/25/10: Last 11 Days — A Deadly Stretch On The Road (17 KB PDF)
• 03/16/10: St. Patrick's Day Leads Holidays for DWI Arrests (32 KB PDF)
• 02/10/10: Teens Called on to Create TV Commercials to Discourage Texting and Driving (25 KB PDF)
• 02/05/10: Super Bowl DWI Enforcement to Flag Impaired Drivers for "Illegal Use of Keys" (23 KB PDF)
• 02/03/10: Alcohol-Related Deaths Decline But Drinking and Driving Still Accounts for One-Third of All Fatalities(113 KB PDF)
• 01/13/10: Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths program wins international safety award
• 01/11/10: December Dwi Crackdown Jails 2,577 Impaired Drivers; 4,586 Cited For Belt Violations (33 KB PDF)
• 01/04/10: Minnesota’s Annual Traffic Deaths Drop Again; 2009 Figure Projected To Be Lowest Since 1944 (159 KB PDF)

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2009

• 12/30/09: Motorists' Last '09 Resolution: Make It To 2010 — Alive And Out Of Jail (136 KB PDF)
• 12/22/09: State Agencies Call On Minnesota Motorists To Prepare For Winter Storm (127 KB PDF)
• 12/17/09: Give A “Safe-Lift Gift” With The Designated Driver Gift Card (413 KB PDF)
• 12/11/09: “Deadliest Counties” For Impaired Driving Announced, Targeted With Extra Patrols In 2010 (431 KB PDF)
• 12/07/09: Snow Is On The Way — Adapt Now For Winter Driving (127 KB PDF)
• 11/24/09: On The Thanksgiving Eve Menu: Extra DWI Patrols (130 KB PDF)
• 11/23/09: AAA's Great Pretenders Party Guide (46 KB PDF)
• 11/12/09: 400 DWI Offenders Participating in State’s Ignition Interlock Program (117 KB PDF)
• 11/04/09: First Statewide Enforcement of Primary Seat Belt Law Results in 10,081 Citations (120 KB PDF)
• 10/30/09: Law Enforcement Watching For "Drink-'N-Driving Trick-Or-Treaters" (122 KB PDF)
• 10/21/09: Farmers can receive pay from Mn/DOT for leaving standing corn rows
• 10/20/09: Omg! Teens Can Win Big in "Don't Text and Drive" å Tv Commercial Challenge(31 KB PDF)
• 10/16/09: Public Safety Announcement to be filmed Oct. 20 at MnROAD facility
• 10/15/09: Public Safety Maps Minnesota’s “Most Unbelted” Counties (130 KB PDF)
• 10/08/09: Video news conference about the record high seat belt use and the Click It or Ticket campaign
• 10/08/09: Record-High Belt Use Rate (31 KB PDF)
• 10/06/09: Safety improvement project underway in southwestern MN
• 10/01/09: 2009 Pedestrian Deaths To-Date Eclipse 2008 Total (27 KB PDF)
• 9/23/09: Drivers Urged To Stay Alert, Give Farm Equipment Operators Extra Room During Harvest (18 KB PDF)
• 9/22/09: Minnesota Traffic Deaths Hit 300 for the Year (28 KB PDF)
• 9/15/09: 1,873 Busted During End-of-Summer DWI Crackdown (34 KB PDF)
• 9/10/09: 4 Child Traffic Deaths in 2009 - None Restrained (37 KB PDF)
• 9/4/09: Extra DWI Enforcement Continues through Labor Day (37 KB PDF)
• 8/21/09: End-of-Summer DWI Crackdown Means End of the Road for Impaired Drivers (37 KB PDF)
• 8/6/09: July is Highest Month in 2009 for NightCAP DWI Arrests (25 KB PDF)
• 7/16/09: Final Traffic Crash Report: Minnesota Deaths Down 11 Percent (26 KB PDF)
• 7/2/09: Extra DWI Enforcement Declared for the 4th (76 KB PDF)
• 6/25/09: Minnesota Booster Seat Law Takes Effect July 1 (86 KB PDF)
• 6/9/09: Fasten your Seat Belts — Primary Law Now in Effect (76 KB PDF)
• 5/26/09: Deadly Holiday Weekend Prompts Call for Safe Driving as State Enters Summer Season (66 KB PDF)
• 5/8/09: Officers to Cast DWI Enforcement Net Over Fishing Opener (23KB PDF)
• 5/5/09: Rock the Vote for Teen-Produced Traffic Safety TV Spots (23KB PDF)
• 5/4/09: Minnesota Road Deaths Hit 100-Mark for 2009 (19KB PDF)
• 5/1/09: Officials Stress Teen Driving Safety During Potentially Deadly Period (21 KB PDF)
• 4/10/09: Motorcycle Deaths in Minnesota Reach 24-year High (19 KB PDF)
• 3/13/09: Minnesota Cops: St. Patrick's Day DWI is not "Magically Delicious" (20 KB PDF)
• 2/03/09: Seven Motorists Killed - Six Not Wearing Seatbelts (19KB PDF)
• 1/16/09: RAVE Works with Liquor Licensees to Reduce Over-Serving, Related Traffic Crashes and DWIs (20KB PDF)
• 1/09/09: December DWI Enforcement Effort Made for 2,655 Not-So-Happy Holidays (22 KB PDF)
• 1/06/09: 2008 Minnesota Traffic Deaths Projected to be Lowest Since 1944 (24 KB PDF)

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2008

• 12/16/08: Give the Gift of a Safe Lift with a Designated Driver Gift Card (33 KB PDF)
• • Gift Card Front (1.2 MB PDF)
  • Gift Card Back (767 KB PDF)
• 12/05/08: State Road Death Count Hits 400 for the Year (25 KB PDF)
• 12/03/08: State Unwraps December-Long DWI Crackdown (24 KB PDF)
• 11/07/08: State Agencies: Shift into Winter Driving Mode (104 KB PDF)
• 10/22/08: Officials stress Bus Safety during National School Bus Safety week (22 KB PDF)
• 10/17/08: 87 Percent of Minnesota Motorists Buckle Up (159 KB PDF)
• 10/13/08: Warning: Deer May be Hazardous to Your Driving
• 10/09/08: Minnesota Cops Mobilize for Click it or Ticket Seatbelt Enforcement (130 KB PDF)
• 9/23/08: Majority of Child Car Seats Used Incorrectly in Minnesota (40 KB PDF)
• 9/22/08: State Traffic Deaths hit 300 for the year (22 KB PDF)
• 9/02/08: Minnesota Traffic Deaths slightly up in 07 (27 KB PDF)
• 8/05/08: Impaired motorist too busy texting to stop for cop (26 KB PDF)
• 8/04/08: Don't thumb it up: Texting, Emailing, Web access behind the wheel Illegal as of August 1 (31 KB PDF)
• 7/28/08: New teen driving limitations in effect August 1 (31 KB PDF)
  • 2005–2007 Minnesota Teen Driving Fact Sheet (16 KB PDF)
  • Minnesota laws for newly licensed teen drivers (34 KB PDF)
• 7/28/08: Primary seat belt law approved on White Earth Reservation (32 KB PDF)
• 7/16/08: Road Death Milestone: Minnesota traffic deaths hit 200 for the year (59 KB PDF)
• 7/02/08: July-long DWI Enforcement sweep Uncorked this weekend (61 KB PDF)
• 6/26/08: Officials stress Traffic Safety as State enters heart of Summer Driving Season — the Deadliest Period on the Road (26 KB PDF)
• 6/16/08: More than 7,700 cited during Click it or ticket Seat Belt Enforcement (33 KB PDF)
• 5/22/08: Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement launches following surge in unbelted traffic deaths (30 KB PDF)
• 5/09/08: End of school year period poses risks for teens behind the wheel (32 KB PDF)
• 5/08/08: Decision 08: Vote now for teen-produced Traffic Safety tv spots (36 KB PDF)
• 4/30/08: State Traffic Deaths Hit 100-Mark Year-to-date (30 KB PDF)
• 4/28/08: Nine Days: 10 Traffic Deaths, Nine not Buckled up (31 KB PDF)
• 4/25/08: Samhsa Survey: Impaired driving prevalent in Minnesota (31 KB PDF)
• 4/17/08: High-Speed Double-Fatal Crash shines Spotlight on Unbelted Nighttime Traffic Deaths (31 KB PDF)
• 3/24/08: Law enforcement to St. Patrick’s Fanatics: Designate O’Driver (26 KB PDF)
• 2/20/08: Lead Foots Stomped: 15,761 Speeders cited in Statewide Enforcement Campaign (33 KB PDF)
• 2/11/08: Public Safety Issues 2006 Impaired Driving Facts Report (27 KB PDF)
• 1/25/08: First 10 Traffic Deaths of 08: Majority Unbelted (26 KB PDF)
• 1/14/08: Unhappy New Year for Impaired Drivers: more than 3,300 arrested in December DWI sweep (28 KB PDF)
• 1/11/08: Minnesota Traffic Deaths Top 500 in 07 (27 KB PDF)

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2007

• 12/11/07: Minnesota—and 15 deadliest impaired-driving counties— to face enhanced DWI patrols in December (32 KB PDF)
  • 08 Operation NightCAP 15 Deadliest Impaired Driving Counties (20 KB PDF)
  • Minnesota's 15 Deadliest Counties for Impaired Driving Poster (49 KB PDF)
  • 2004–2006 Minnesota Impaired Driving Fact Sheet (34 KB PDF)
  • Minnesota's Deadliest Impaired Driving Counties (26 KB XLS)
• 11/28/07: Thanksgiving Day Appetizer: Strong DWI Enforcement (112 KB PDF)
• 11/20/07: Minnesota passes 400 traffic fatality mark (114 KB PDF)
• 07/31/07: Review shows majority of counties' traffic deaths drop (40 KB PDF)
  • Minnesota Traffic Deaths by County, 2006 v. 2001–2005 Average (24 KB PDF)
  • Traffic Deaths in Minnesota by County, 2001-2005 Average v. 2006 (44 KB PDF)
  • Traffic Deaths in Central Minnesota (100 KB PDF)
  • Traffic Deaths in Metropolitan Minnesota (144 KB PDF)
  • Traffic Deaths in Northeast Minnesota (100 KB PDF)
  • Traffic Deaths in Northwest Minnesota (84 KB PDF)
  • Traffic Deaths in Southeast Minnesota (84 KB PDF)
  • Traffic Deaths in Southwest Minnesota (100 KB PDF)
  • Traffic Deaths in Western Minnesota (84 KB PDF)
• 07/13/07: Commissioner Campion appoints Cheri Marti Director of the Office of Traffic Safety (119 KB PDF)
• 07/11/07: State Patrol reports six killed on Minnesota roads over 4th of July travel period (116 KB PDF)
• 07/11/07: NightCap to target impaired driving in Twin Cities area all summer long
  • News Release (99 KB PDF)
  • Summer NightCap Facts Sheet (79 KB PDF)
  • Summer NightCap image of students passed out on couch (982 KB PDF)
• Crash Facts 2006 reports drop in deaths, alcohol-related fatalities Traffic Deaths Lowest in 60 Years; Goal of 400 or Fewer Set for 2010
  • News Release (140 KB PDF)
  • Crash Facts 2006 overview (85 KB PDF)
• 06/26/07: HEAT patrols tag more than 1,400 speeders in first two weeks (120 KB PDF)
• 06/14/07: 9,300 unbelted motorists ticketed during Minnesota seat belt enforcement (122 KB PDF)
• 06/07/07: HEAT to again burn speeders on Minnesota roads
  • News Release (153 KB PDF)
  • MN Speeding Facts Sheet (80 KB PDF)
  • MN Speeing Statistics 2002-2006 (100 KB PDF)
• 05/25/07: Memorial Day road trip is no vacation (108 KB PDF)
• 05/14/07: Wall to walleye traffic, officials urge road safety (88 KB PDF)
• 05/14/07: State study links teen crashes and hospital charges
  • News Release (84 KB PDF)
  • Teen Study Fact Sheet (32 KB PDF)
• 05/09/07: Southeast Minnesota officers mobilize for seat belt enforcement effort (147 KB PDF)
• 04/24/07: Prom season traffic deaths show poor seat belt use, significant alcohol use among teens (84 KB PDF)
• 04/23/07: First "Dying to Get Home" saturation results issued (119 KB PDF)
• 04/23/07: Motorcyclists return with backdrop of deaths doubling since 2000 (96 KB PDF)
• 04/16/07: "Dying to Get Home" law enforcement saturations begin in April (119 KB PDF)
• 04/13/07: State Traffic Deaths Hit 100-Mark Year-to-Date (88 KB PDF)
• 04/04/07: March Crash Fatalities (104 KB PDF)
• 03/20/07: Public Safety issues impaired driving facts report
  • News Release (96 KB PDF)
  • Table of 2005 Criminal Conviction Rate for DWI Incidents by Judicial District, County and Offense Level (248 KB PDF)
  • 2005 Minnesota County Impaired Driving Fact Sheet (124 KB PDF)
• 03/20/07: "Wild Hogs" raises the curtain on older biker safety issue (96 KB PDF)
• 03/20/07: Three in four child car seats used incorrectly in Minnesota
  • News Release (100 KB PDF)
  • Child passenger safety (CPS) B-Roll available (104 KB PDF)
• 03/20/07: January Crash Fatalities (76 KB PDF)

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2006

• 11/03/06: More than 8,100 vehicles stopped in Northeast in first year of HEAT (101 KB PDF)
• 10/23/06: Minnesota Seat Belt Statistics by County, 2001-2005 (104 KB PDF)
• 09/26/06: Seat Belt Use Survey (100 KB PDF)
• 09/06/06: August Crash Fatalities (108 KB PDF)
• 08/29/06: New statewide trauma system to help ensure prompt care for seriously injured Minnesotans (108 KB PDF)
• 08/14/06: Traffic Deaths Decrease Second Year in a Row; 18 Counties with One or No Deaths (149 KB PDF)
• 08/09/06: Motorcycle Road Deaths: Not "Just for Kids" Any More (112 KB PDF)
• 08/09/06: Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Fact Sheet (68 KB PDF)
• 08/02/06: July Crash Fatalities (108 KB PDF)
• 07/24/06: More Counties Reporting Fewer Traffic Fatalities
  • Overview (88 KB PDF)
  • News Release (140 KB PDF)
  • Table of Traffic Deaths in Minnesota by County, 2000-2004 Average v. 2005, Change and Contributing Factors (100 KB PDF)
  • 2005 Minnesota Deaths by County Color Map (84 KB PDF)
• 07/11/06: June Fatalities and 4th of July Weekend Crashes (132 KB PDF)
• 06/26/06: More than 7,900 vehicles stopped in nine months of HEAT in southeast (145 KB PDF)
• 06/23/06: Minnesota Illegal/Unsafe Speed Statistics by County, 2001–2005 (100 KB PDF)
• 06/23/06: 62,000 vehicles stopped in nine months of HEAT (Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic) across state (132 KB PDF)
• 06/22/06: Minnesota "Click It or Ticket" Citations News Release (112 KB PDF)
• 06/22/06: innesota Twins Batting for Traffic Safety (112 KB PDF)
• 04/28/06: Death with Seat Belts article materials
  • Deaths with Seat Belts - Full Article (84 KB PDF)
  • Deaths with Seat Belts - Text Only (56 KB PDF)
  • Deaths with Seat Belts - Chart Only (64 KB PDF)

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