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McLeod County TZD Coaltion pleased with improved statistics

On the surface, one death and 157 people injured in vehicle crashes during 2019 may seem apalling. While the McLeod County Toward Zero Deaths Safe Roads Coalition wants to see both numbers near zero, the group is pleased with the improvement from the previous year.
“2018 was somewhat of an anomaly for fatalities in McLeod County in recent years,” said Scott Wawrzyniak, a patrol sergeant for the McLeod County Sheriff's Office and a member of the coalition. “We have been trending downward on fatal crashes in the last 10 or so years and 2018 spiked up to six and then dropped again to just one in 2019.”
With the release of 2019’s preliminary traffic statistics, the coalition advises motorists to be vigilant about driving safely by using their seat belts, slowing down, avoiding alcohol and drugs before driving, and getting rid of distractions.
The county’s latest statistics are consistent with a statewide trend. Minnesota traffic fatalities were down in 2019: 364 compared to 381 the previous year.
As recently as 2007, Minnesota typically had more than 500 annual traffic fatalities. And in the early 1970s, the fatality count often topped 1,000, though the total number of motorist-driven miles was only a fraction of today’s.
“There are many factors that have had positive results in decreasing traffic crash fatalities in Minnesota over the last five decades,” Wawrzyniak said. “I think you could start with the addition of all vehicles requiring seat belts and children needing to be in child seats, and progress to the present time where multiple airbags are required in passenger vehicles.”

(For the complete story, see the Feb. 5 print edition of The Chronicle.)