Minnesota Index: seatbelts, safety and deadly distractions

Number of traffic crashes reported to the Department of Public Safety in 2014  78,396

Number of people who died in Minnesota traffic crashes in 2014              361

Percent decrease from 2013       6.7

                People who died in crashes in 2010, 2000, 1990, 1980 respectively             411, 625, 568, 863

State fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2014   0.63

                National average              1.09

                State rank for lowest fatality rate in 2013              3

Number of people who were injured in Minnesota traffic crashes in 2014             29,439

Estimated economic cost to the state, in billions                $1.6

Alcohol-related crashes in Minnesota in 2014      3,453

                Fatalities from those crashes      111

                Injuries in those crashes               2,040

                Estimated economic cost to the state, in millions               $214.94

Per day average of motorists arrested for DWI in 2014    70

                Average blood-alcohol concentration for those drivers  0.15

Percent of Minnesotans who wore their seatbelt in 2015              94

Percent in 2014 94.7

Percent in 2013 94.8

Percent in 2012 93.6

Percent in 2011 92.7

Percent in 2010 92.3

Hours when seatbelt use is least likely   7-9 a.m.

Hours it is most likely      5-6 p.m.

Day of the week when seatbelt use is least likely              Wednesday

Day it is most likely          Saturday

Ages where seatbelt use is least likely    16-29

Ages where it is most likely         0-10

Percent of surveyed motorcyclists wore helmets in 2015 53.6

Driver age group that has the highest distraction rate     16-29

                Percent distraction rate 35.46

Day of week when districted driving is most common     Saturday             

Driver distraction rate for males, as percent        30.15

                Rate for females, as percent       27.59

Distraction rate, as a percent, for drivers of vans/minivans, the highest among vehicle type         37.64

Most common distraction types (in order)           Rear passenger interaction, Cellphone handling, cellphone conversation, eating, smoking

SOURCES: Minnesota Distracted Driving Survey: 2015, Minnesota Seat Belt Use Survey: June 2015, Minnesota Motor Vehicle Crash Facts 2014 and Minnesota Impaired Driving Facts 2014, all from the Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety.