Dear Editor:

Year after year, Wright County teens and young adults are at risk on the road because they are less likely to buckle up.

We ask all in our community, especially parents, teachers, coaches, employers and others with contact and influence on teens and young adults, to insist on seat belt use and lead by action.

Safe Communities works to develop local solutions to traffic issues from multiple approaches, including enforcement, engineering, public health and more. Yet the cause of, and solution to, many traffic crashes — human behavior — is the most challenging to address.

Drivers and their passengers have the most control over their safety through their choices and actions. And they have the most effective and simplest tool to prevent their death or injury in a crash: seat belts.

If we all address this issue, we can spare our community, families and businesses from suffering the preventable deaths and life-altering injuries that take such a dramatic toll on all our lives and resources.

Please buckle up. Remember, click it or ticket.

Sincerely,
Karla Heeter
Safe Communities of Wright County Board Member

An early report released by the National Highway and Transportation Administration (NHTSA) estimated there were approximately 31,000 traffic fatalities nationally in 2010. That's about 87 fatalities every single day - one fatality every 20 minutes. Imagine a day with zero traffic deaths - where all drivers make a special effort to “Put the Brakes on Fatalities!”

The Wright County Board of Commissioners is doing its part to support a nationwide effort to draw awareness to needless fatal and serious injuries on our roadways. On September 27, 2011 the Board adopted a resolution to declare October 10, 2011 as “Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day.”

The goal is to unite the country in achieving one full day of zero traffic deaths by encouraging safer behavior and actions, promoting safer roadways and vehicles, and creating improved ways to handle medical emergencies and enforcement of traffic regulations. "Motor vehicle fatalities are the leading cause of death for Minnesotans under the age of 35. Whether as a driver, passenger, pedestrian, motorcyclist, cyclist or professional, by working together in a concerted effort, we can make a difference by reducing the number of fatalities occurring on our local roads and all throughout the state and nation," said Wayne Fingalson, Wright County Engineer and Safe Communities of Wright County Board member.

The good news is that by taking pro-active steps, the public can greatly reduce the odds of becoming a statistic. "Wright County has seen a dramatic drop in fatal crashes; especially over the last 18 months." said Pat Hackman, Executive Director of Safe Communities of Wright County.  “In 2010 we saw a record low of six fatal crashes in our County for the entire year. It was also the first time we have seen a year with zero teen fatalities. Although progress is being made, we have a long way to go before we are at zero.”  Eliminating distractions such as text messaging and talking on a cell phone, never driving when drowsy, always concentrating on driving and obeying the posted speed limits, and not drinking while driving are just a few examples of how drivers can reduce their chances of being in a crash. Other important safety practices include buckling up immediately upon entering a vehicle or every time you begin a trip and using appropriate child safety and booster seats.

This year Safe Communities of Wright County and the Wright County Highway Department have joined together to sponsor a “Put the Brakes on Fatalities” Poster Contest.  Wright County students in grades 3 - 5 are encouraged to help spread the message of traffic safety by creating a safety poster. For more information about the Put Brakes on Fatalities Poster Contest or general traffic safety, please visit www.safecommunitiesofwrightcounty.org.

Impaired Driving – More to the Story

When most people think of impaired driving, they think of a person who has been drinking alcohol and driving, however; there are many other causes of impaired driving, such as: being under the influence of legal or illegal drugs, being too sleepy to drive, or driving distracted, all of which can have an impact on one’s ability to drive. 

Although driving while under the influence of legal or illegal drugs is not as well known as driving after drinking alcohol, it can be just as deadly.  Any drug, legal or otherwise, that affects a person’s mood or alters the way a person feels, will also affect their driving.  While some legal medications will not necessarily affect a person’s ability to drive, the very nature of illegal drugs is that they are intended to be mind altering, which in turn, demands that these users not operate a motor vehicle.  Illegal drugs, and some legal medications, can alter the person’s perception of time, balance and distance to other objects, and this can create a deadly combination when driving.

Another form of impaired driving that is often overlooked is drowsy driving.  Every year, more than 100,000 accidents and 1,500 deaths are caused by driver fatigue.  Like drugs or alcohol, sleepiness slows reaction time, decreases awareness, and impairs judgment and ability to concentrate.  Sleeping and driving don’t mix!  Don’t start a trip when you are tired, and avoid using caffeine products to stay awake; caffeine products are quick fixes that may leave you even more tired when the effects wear off.  The same goes for turning up the radio or driving with the window down.  Both of these tricks have only short-term effect on your body.  On longer trips, plan a 15-20 minute break every two hours, and try to plan your trips around the hours you would normally be awake; if you are sleepy, do not drive.

Distracted driving is by far the most prevalent form of impaired driving.  Most people have driven a vehicle while eating.  When you add smoking, texting, or talking on the phone while listening to the radio, you have a recipe for disaster.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration lists three main types of distractions: Visual – taking your eyes off of the road, Manual – taking your hands off of the wheel, and Cognitive – taking your mind off of the road.  Any one of these distractions can be deadly! 

In 2009, distracted drivers killed nearly 5,474 people, and more than 448,000 were injured.  The simple task of reaching for a CD or dialing a phone number, could lead to a life-changing event.  If you need to talk on the phone, pull over.  Ask someone else in the car to change the CD.  Take a few minutes out of your day to eat that cheeseburger and fries, and then continue on your way. 

Events can happen quickly when you are behind the wheel.  Don’t drive impaired, keep your eyes and mind on driving, and reduce or eliminate as many distractions as possible.  Be safe!

Officer John Lees & Chief Mitch Weinzetl, Buffalo Police Department.

It’s surprising how many people don’t know about the requirement to move over or slow down for an emergency vehicle. Most people have never stood next to a vehicle that was traveling 55 miles per hour. Officers are endangered not only by the vehicles themselves but also from the road debris that tires kick up. Drivers must move their vehicles away from stopped emergency vehicles to keep our officers safe.

On Thursday, August 31, 2000, Corporal Ted Foss stopped a minivan in southern Minnesota for a speeding violation. He was talking with the minivan's occupants when a semi-truck veered off of the roadway, striking Foss's squad car, the minivan and Foss himself. Corporal Foss died at the scene.

In 2001 the Minnesota Legislature enacted a law requiring motorists to move away from emergency vehicles. The law later became known as the “Ted Foss Move Over Law.”

Minnesota State law 169.18 subd. 11 states that "When approaching and before passing an authorized emergency vehicle that is parked or otherwise stopped on or next to a street or highway having two or more lanes in the same direction, the driver of a vehicle shall safely move the vehicle to a lane away from the emergency vehicle."

During the 2005 legislative session, the "Move Over Law" was amended in Corporal Foss's memory to clarify that on roads with two or more lanes in the same direction, a passing driver must provide a full lane of buffer space

By January 2011 49 of the 50 states had move over laws. Hawaii was the only state to not have a move over law.

Follow the law – save lives

If you are traveling on a roadway with two of more lanes, you must keep a lane away when passing a stopped ambulance, fire truck, road helper, construction or law enforcement vehicle.

If you are not able to safely move a lane away, reduce your speed.

Follow these simple rules at all times and help make the lives of our law enforcement officers and emergency responders a little bit safer.

Failure to move over or slow can result in a citation or worse, an injured or killed emergency worker.

Move Over is a common sense law that is critical to the safety of law enforcement, emergency workers and responders, and road crews.

Drive Safe,

Chief Vetruba

Howard Lake Police Department

Safe Communities of Wright County Board Chair

Dear Editor,

Although most Minnesotans think of dangerous driving during the icy winter months, it is during the summer that Minnesota roads become more dangerous as more motorists, motorcyclists and others hit the roads. As speeds increase violent crashes are more likely to occur.

Speed limits are posted for a reason— to reflect the maximum safe speed for the road’s design. No matter how many motorists speed, it doesn’t make it legal or safe. The dangers of speeding include greater potential for loss of vehicle control; increased stopping distance; less time available for driver response for crash avoidance;  and increased crash severity leading to more numerous and severe injuries.

Speeding is a serious issue, especially in rural communities. Each year, nearly 70 percent of speed-related traffic deaths occur in rural areas.

Drivers need to realistically anticipate travel times and allow the time necessary to arrive at your destination safely and on time. The minimal time gained while speeding could have life-long, tragic consequences. Please abide by posted speed limits for everyone’s benefit!

Wayne Fingalson
Wright County Highway Engineer
Safe Communities of Wright County Board Member

Dear Editor:
Memorial Day weekend is upon us, local schools are letting out soon and the weather is finally starting to warm up! Safe Communities of Wright County would like to remind everyone that the kick-off of summertime also unfortunately marks the beginning of the 100 deadliest days on the roads for our teen drivers.  Young drivers are not only more likely overall to be involved in crashes, but they are also the group that is most likely to be unbelted. Year after year, we hear the sad stories of lives lost in car accidents because seatbelts were not being used by a driver or passengers.  Myths about seatbelt safety cause some to forgo buckling up, and others claim it is simply a personal choice.  But the data collected from trauma centers and emergency responders nationwide show overwhelmingly that seatbelts save lives.  Simply put, the odds are in your favor when you’re buckled up, and here’s just a few of the reasons why:

Seatbelts help keep you inside the vehicle when a crash occurs.  According to John Hopkins University, once ejected from the vehicle you are 25 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured.  As the driver, a safety belt also keeps you behind the steering column of your car, making it less likely that you will loose total control of the vehicle.  An otherwise minor incident can turn into a major crash when a driver is driver is shifted from their seat at impact.  As such, an unbelted driver is more apt to cause a fatal crash not only for those passengers inside his own car, but also for those in other vehicles that share the road.

All of us can help prevent this reality from touching our community.  We can buckle up every single time we get behind the wheel, regardless of the length of our trip or which roads we travel.  We can insist on seatbelt usage by every passenger, regardless of their age.  And we can remind our newest drivers that a split-second decision not to buckle up can literally cost them or someone they love a lifetime. 

On behalf of Safe Communities of Wright County enjoy a summer of safe and happy travel!

Nancy Kopff
SCWC Board Member

Safe Communities of Wright County is stressing to Wright County teens to buckle up and focus on driving to prevent a similar rash of teen deaths that occurred in April 2010 when 12 people ages 12–23 were killed in crashes within four days.

Pat Hackman, SCWC executive director, says the prom and the end of the school year have the potential to be deadly on the road.

“We want teens to live to see their future, and that begins by buckling up on every ride, and staying focused while driving” says Hackman. “Last year’s spring underscored the ongoing problem we face with our teen drivers and their passengers. We are calling on parents, teachers, coaches, and especially teens, to stress the safe driving message to keep teens safe during this high risk period.”

Inexperience, risk-taking, distractions and low seat belt use are the primary reasons traffic crashes are the leading killer of Minnesota teenagers.

Hackman says it’s critical for parents to assure they know what prom activities their teens are participating in, who they’ll be riding with, and if their teen is driving. Parents should establish clear rules that place safety as the highest priority:

Seat Belts

Teen drivers and passengers are less likely to buckle up than other age groups. In Minnesota, law enforcement will stop and ticket unbelted drivers and passengers. Drivers and all passengers must be buckled up or in the correct child restraint. A seat belt fine can be more than $100. An unbelted motorist can crash into a windshield and slam into and injure or kill other passengers. Often, an unbelted motorist is ejected from the vehicle and killed when the vehicle rolls over them.

Texting/Web Access

In Minnesota it is illegal for all drivers to read or compose texts/emails, and access the Web while the vehicle is in motion or a part of traffic, such as at a stoplight. It is illegal for drivers under age 18 to use a cell phone at any time, except to call 911.

Underage Drinking

The state’s “Not a Drop” law says drivers under age 21 cited for any amount of alcohol use will lose their license from 30 to 180 days, and face up to a $700 fine and 90 days in jail. Minors will lose their license until age 18 when arrested for DWI or involved in an impaired driving crash or crime.

Adults who provide alcohol to minors can be held responsible and suffer serious criminal, legal, and financial consequences including: felony charges and prison time in the case of death; civil liability charges in the case of injury, property damage or death; and increased insurance rates



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Drivers texting, talking, eating, reading, fiddling with the radio, shaving — and involved in other distracting actions — will be the focus of a statewide distracted driving enforcement effort on April 21, 2011.

Driver distraction is a leading factor in crashes in Minnesota, accounting for at least 20 percent of all crashes annually, resulting in 70 deaths and 350 injuries. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) Office of Traffic Safety reports these numbers are vastly underreported due to the challenges of determining “distraction” as a contributing crash factor.

“Driving may seem like a routine, and as a result, drivers turn their attention away from the road,” says Pat Hackman, Safe Communities of Wright County executive director,  “The reality is situations on the road can change in an instant, and if you become distracted, your routine drive will turn into a rush to the ER.”

In Minnesota it is illegal for drivers to read or compose texts/emails, and access the Web on a wireless device while the vehicle is in motion or a part of traffic, such as at a stoplight. It is illegal for drivers under age 18 to use a cell phone at any time. Other laws address a driver’s “duty to drive with due care.”

There are four main types of driver distraction.

• Visual — looking away from the road. 

• Mechanical/Physical — taking hands off the wheel: manipulation of controls, such as dialing a cell phone or adjusting radio or music device.

• Cognitive — being “lost in thought,” or focusing on a conversation, resulting in withdrawing from situational awareness. 

• A combination of these — reading a map or texting while driving.

Distractions cause drivers to react more slowly to traffic conditions or events, such as a vehicle stopping or pulling out in traffic. A University of Utah study reports that using a cell phone while driving, whether hands-free or hand-held, delays a driver’s reactions as much as having an alcohol-concentration level of 0.08 percent. And when texting, drivers take their eyes off the road for up to 4.6 out of every 6 seconds — equivalent to traveling the length of a football field at 55 mph hours without looking up.

Safe Communities offers these tips to minimize distractions:

• Cell phones — turn off cell phones, or place them out of reach to avoid the urge to dial or answer. If a passenger is present, ask them to handle calls/texts.

• Music and other controls — pre-program favorite radio stations for easy access and arrange music (mp3 player/CDs/tapes) in an easy-to-access spot. Adjust mirrors and heat/AC before traveling, or ask a passenger to assist.

• Navigation — designate a passenger to serve as a co-pilot to help with directions. If driving alone, map out destinations in advance; pull over to check a map, if necessary.

• Eating and drinking — if you cannot avoid food/beverage, at least avoid messy foods, and be sure food and drinks are secured.

• Children — teach children the importance of good behavior in a vehicle; do not underestimate how distracting it can be to tend to children while driving.

• If you’re a passenger, speak up to stop drivers from distracted driving behavior and volunteer to handle music/other controls and answer phone calls/texts.

• If making/receiving a call to/from someone driving, ask them to call back when they are not behind the wheel.

The distracted driving enforcement and education effort is a component of the state’s core traffic safety initiative, Toward Zero Deaths (TZD). A primary vision of the TZD program is to sculpt a safe driving culture in 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.



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It just takes a second.  This is a common phrase that I hear from young drivers regarding the distractions while they are behind the wheel.  It just takes a second to answer a phone call.  It just takes a second to push two buttons, ok, from a text.  It just takes a second to adjust the CD/radio.  Unfortunately, these are all too common activities while young adults are driving.  Today we have better educational programs in place to educate teen drivers regarding the topic of driving responsibly and understanding the consequences that ‘just a second’ takes when someone is distracted.  I believe we have to give credit to our young drivers today, as statistically there is data showing more teenagers are wearing seat belts and making good, conscious decisions regarding the safety of their driving.  The problem today is that there are more distractions available to these young drivers with regards to electronic devices that create a challenge for teens to stay focused on the road while driving.  It only takes a second for someone to lose control of their vehicle or involve other drivers that may result in a crash.  Distracted driving amongst teen drivers is continually one of the leading causes of vehicle crashes on the roads today.  Before you get behind the wheel, please take more than a second to review your decision making process to avoid an unsafe situation while driving.



Sincerely,





Matthew W. Schoen

Principal, Delano High School

Safe Communities of Wright County Board Member

We live in a fast moving society.  We find ourselves able to juggle work, home, kid’s schedules and appointments but we test the limits of what our brains can handle and ignore the dangerous reality that distracted driving kills. 



There are so many pressures to stay connected throughout our day and so we find ourselves multitasking while driving our vehicles.  Distracted driving has many forms: talking or texting on a cell phone, listening to music, having a conversation with a passenger, eating, driving fatigued, and changing a CD to name a few.



For every 6 seconds of drive time, a driver sending or receiving a text message spends 4.6 of those seconds with their eyes off the road. This makes texting the most distracting of all cell phone related tasks. More teens die in automobile crashes than from any other cause and this reality is exacerbated by the increase use of handheld devices while operating a motor vehicle. Texting while driving a vehicle involves taking your mind away visually, manually and cognitively.  This means your eyes, hands, and mind are not involved in operating your vehicle. .



Talking on a cell phone while driving can make a young driver’s reaction time as slow as that of a 70-year-old. Each year 21% of fatal car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 were the result of cell phone usage.



Distracted Driving is on the rise in America and it’s the #1 killer of our teens. As adults, we need to change our attitudes and set good examples for our teens.  We need to create and put into use good driving habits and avoid distractions that put you and your family at risk on the road.  The consequences of distracted driving is destructive and can be deadly.  You need to dedicate 100% of your mind to one of the biggest privileges we have...being in control of thousands of pounds of steel!   





Chief Jeffrey Herr

Annandale Police Department

Safe Communities – Wright County - Board Member