October is traditionally the deadliest month for pedestrians, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation and several partners are launching a new statewide pedestrian safety campaign with crosswalk events in five Minnesota cities Tuesday, September 25, from 3:00- 6:00 p.m.
Share the Road crossing ambassadors will raise awareness for pedestrian safety by holding a banner with safety tips for drivers and people walking while crossing in marked crosswalks in the following cities:
- Duluth – Lake Avenue/Superior Street
- Minneapolis – Hennepin Avenue South/West Lake Street
- Minneapolis – Chicago Avenue South/East Lake Street
- St. Cloud – Fifth Avenue South/Second Street South (Highway 23)
- St. Paul – West Seventh Street/Kellogg Boulevard West
- Rochester – Second Street South/Broadway (Highway 63)
"The number of pedestrian fatalities remains at about 40 per year, even though total fatalities on Minnesota roads have been steadily decreasing" said Sue Groth, MnDOT state traffic engineer. "This is an important area to focus on because pedestrians are more vulnerable than motorists who are protected by the vehicle, seatbelts and air bags during a crash."
The campaign aims to increase the percentage of motorists and pedestrians who follow the Minnesota crosswalk law and know the safe walking and driving behaviors. These behaviors will help reduce pedestrian-vehicle crashes on Minnesota roadways.
- Pedestrians should make eye contact with drivers before proceeding into the crosswalk.
- Motorists should always being prepared to stop for crossing pedestrians at every corner.
- Every corner is a crosswalk.
This campaign launch also includes bus advertising, restaurant/bar bathroom advertising and billboards across the state, as well as radio messages on Minnesota Public Radio and 93X-FM.
To date, there have been 23 pedestrian deaths in Minnesota in 2012. There were 16 at this time in 2011. Annual pedestrian deaths in the last five years include:
- 2011 - 40
- 2010 - 36
- 2009 - 41
- 2008 - 25
- 2007 - 33
The Share the Road pedestrian safety campaign supports Minnesota's "Toward Zero Death" (TZD) efforts.
TZD is the state's cornerstone traffic safety program that is a partnership between the departments of Public Safety, Transportation and Health, the Minnesota Emergency Medical Services Board and other traffic safety partners.
A primary vision of the TZD program is to create a traffic safety culture in Minnesota, in which everyone supports a goal of zero road fatalities by practicing and promoting safe and smart behaviors. TZD focuses on the application of four strategic areas to reduce crashes — education, enforcement, engineering and emergency trauma response.
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