Minnesota’s primary seat belt law resulted in 68 fewer deaths and 320 fewer severe injuries from 2009 to 2011, according to a study released March 26 by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety.

The study, conducted by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Excellence in Rural Safety on behalf of DPS, also found that the reduction in deaths and injuries has resulted in $45 million in avoided hospital charges, including nearly $10 million in taxpayer dollars that would have paid for Medicare and Medicaid charges.

“As Minnesota continues its efforts to move roadway deaths towards zero, this research shows that seat belts are a critical tool in that effort,” said Commissioner Tom Sorel. “There are many people alive today, in Minnesota as well as across the country, thanks to seat belts.”

Minnesota’s primary seat belt law went into effect in June 2009. Prior to that, not wearing a seat belt was a secondary offense, which allowed law enforcement officers to ticket for failure to wear seat belts, but only when there was another moving violation.

Under the primary seat belt law, officers can ticket drivers for not wearing a seat belt without any other law being broken. Currently, 32 states have primary seat belt laws.

CERS analyzed the impacts of the new law, examining the changes in roadway crash fatalities through June 2011. CERS also examined seat belt use data and survey results that measured support for the law and found:

• More Minnesotans are buckling up since the primary law went into effect—seat belt use in the state has increased from 87 percent in 2008 to 93 percent in 2011.
• Minnesotans’ support of the law increased from 62 percent just before the law was passed to more than 70 percent since it was passed.

Seat belt use is an integral part of the Toward Zero Deaths initiative—a multiagency effort focused on advancing traffic safety and preventing deaths and injuries on Minnesota’s roads through education, enforcement, engineering and emergency trauma response.

TZD uses increased enforcement targeting seat belt use, speeding and impaired driving; paid media and outreach efforts to educate communities; MnDOT engineering enhancements; and improved emergency medical and trauma response that increases the chances of survival for crash victims, especially in rural communities.

Minnesota traffic deaths have decreased in the last few years as a result of TZD and other traffic safety initiatives, according to DPS. Traffic fatalities in the state are down nearly 40 percent from a decade ago; 2011 marks the first year the state will be under 400 annual deaths since 1944.

By Qin Tang

More than 100 people gathered at the James J. Hill House in St. Paul March 23 to watch the Emerging Leaders Institute class of 2011-2012 graduation ceremony. This year’s class is the sixth group to graduate from ELI—a program created and sponsored by Minnesota Management and Budget that gives a select group of 30 emerging leaders from across state government an opportunity to become more successful and effective leaders in the workplace.  
 

Four MnDOT employees participated in the 2011-2012 ELI program:

• Erik Rudeen, Government Affairs
• Krysten Saatela, District 1 project development engineer
• Philip Schaffner, Statewide Multimodal Planning
• Qin Tang, MnDOT Library

Every year, ELI participants elect a representative to speak on behalf of the class at graduation; this year’s group elected Philip Schaffner.

“The Emerging Leaders Institute was a great opportunity to meet colleagues from other state agencies and learn about the challenges our sister agencies are currently facing,” Schaffner said. “It was honor to speak on behalf of the cohort at the graduation ceremony. I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in the program.”

The ELI program takes place in a seven-month period from September until March. Classes meet twice a month and cover a variety of topics, including:

• Ethics and values
• Characteristics of effective leadership
• Situational leadership
• Motivational theories
• Effective listening skills
• Leading change
• Building cultural competence, collaboration and teamwork

MnDOT now has 14 graduates working across the agency in different areas and at different levels who have participated in the program. District 1’s Krysten Saatela is one of the four employees from this year’s class.

“Whether receiving advice or gaining leadership perspective, I learned how to more effectively manage myself within each of MnDOT’s shared competencies and will continue to apply these lessons in my current role, as well as the future,” Saatela said. “I appreciated the opportunity to represent our agency while building trust and learning from our state colleagues.”

For more information on the Emerging Leaders Institute, including the ELI application process, visit www.mmb.state.mn.us/eli. Applications for the 2012-2013 ELI class will be posted to the website May 1.

Employees are encouraged to participate in the latest Commissioner’s Reading Corner book discussion on Wednesday, April 4, at 2:30 p.m.

Author Stephen M.R. Covey, cofounder and CEO of CoveyLink Worldwide, will join MnDOT via conference call to lead a discussion of his book “Smart Trust.” Covey will discuss trust building strategies and government trust. 

Due to the anticipated interest, each district office has been asked to reserve conference room space so employees can view the event. The Central Office cafeteria will be available, as well as limited space in rooms G13-G14.

For more information on other upcoming Commissioner’s Reading Corner book discussions, visit ihub/readingcorner. Employees with questions can contact Qin Tang at 651-366-3784.

By Qin Tang

The February 2012 edition of New Library Materials is now available at www.dot.state.mn.us/library/newlibmat.html.

The “Information Extra” in this issue features information about the Transportation Knowledge Network and the role it plays in providing the best access to the best information for the best transportation decisions.

Capitol Ideas, a journal by the Council of State Governments, also is available. The March/April 2012 issue focuses on transportation, including topics such as financing alternatives, financing aviation, road safety, state license plates, freight transportation, ports in transition and mass transit. The issue also features an interview with Ray LaHood, United States transportation secretary.

Archived editions of New Library Materials are available at www.dot.state.mn.us/library/recacq-archive.html.

New Library Materials is a compilation of new titles and other resources added to the library collection during the previous month. If you would like to be added to the distribution list, please contact Pam Gonzalez at 651-366-3749.

For other information requests, contact the library at 651-366-3791 or email library.dot@state.mn.us. Employees can also send requests via the “Ask a Librarian” web page at www.dot.state.mn.us/library/asklibrarian.html.

Check out these recent updates to MnDOT’s social media channels:

• The agency recently created a video featuring Minnesota transportation highlights from 2011. The video is available on MnDOT’s YouTube Video Channel.
• Two MnDOT projects now have a presence on Facebook as another way for the public to connect with the agency. A new St. Croix Crossing page features information on the construction of a new four-lane bridge between Oak Park Heights and St. Joseph, Wis.
• The agency also created a Mississippi River Trail page for the Minnesota segment of the trail that provides opportunities tailored for bicyclists of all types and ages along America’s great river.

For more information about social media at MnDOT, visit ihub/socialmedia/index.html.