Accident, fatality rates tumble in 2001

Accident, fatality rates tumble in 2001

But numbers are on pace to set record this year

graphic of accidents by county pb graphic

By Janice Gregorson

gregor@postbulletin.com

There were fewer accidents and a whopping 52 percent decrease in the number of traffic fatalities in Rochester and Olmsted County last year, according to new state figures.p But numbers are on pace to set record this year

graphic of accidents by county pb graphic

By Janice Gregorson

gregor@postbulletin.com

There were fewer accidents and a whopping 52 percent decrease in the number of traffic fatalities in Rochester and Olmsted County last year, according to new state figures.

And while that is good news, local law enforcement officials aren't doing handsprings.

Lt. Darryl Peterson of the regional office of the Minnesota State Patrol said this year's traffic accident death rate could set new records.

As of Aug. 20, 363 people have died in traffic accidents in Minnesota this year compared to 345 during the same period last year. In Rochester and Olmsted County, at least nine lives have been lost in traffic accidents so far this year, compared to 12 in all of last year.

The 2001 edition of Crash Facts was released Wednesday. It is an annual report analyzing traffic accidents prepared by the Office of Traffic Safety, a division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

Last year, 2,340 traffic accidents occurred in Olmsted County, representing a 5.8 percent decrease from 2000.

But the big news is the drop in traffic fatalities -- from 25 in 2000 to 12 throughout the county last year. Two of those occurred on city streets, compared to 12 in 2000.

Rochester Police Capt. Rick Krueger welcomes the news, saying "it's very pleasant to hear."

Statewide, 568 people died in traffic crashes last year -- 57 fewer than in 2000, representing a 9.1 percent decrease.

State analysts say weather and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks might have indirectly played roles in the statistics by reducing the number of vehicle miles people traveled. Officials also said Minnesota had harsh winter weather in the first part of 2000. In the first four months of the year, 166 people died on Minnesota roads compared to 126 in the first four months of 2001.

In the nine-county southeastern Minnesota area, there were 7,639 accidents in 2000 and 7,084 last year, a drop of 605. The death rate also was down. In all, 63 people died in traffic accidents in the region in 2000; 50 died in 2001.

Officials say programs such as Safe and Sober and increased traffic enforcement have helped change the behavior of Minnesota's drivers.

Krueger said he would like to attribute the decrease last year to law enforcement activities. During the years, Rochester, Olmsted County and the State Patrol have all had active Safe and Sober programs.

"But how you measure that is very difficult to know," Krueger said. "We just have to look at the statistics and see where they are headed. We are absolutely pleased with these."