Ask a Trooper by Troy Christianson

Question:  What are the leading contributing factors in crashes in Minnesota?

Answer: Great question.

When law enforcement is called to investigate a crash, in most cases, we complete the Minnesota accident report. The report requires the officer to fill in or answer certain questions that pertain to the incident from road and weather conditions, driver and vehicle information and contributing factors on how and why the crash occurred.

When the crash report is submitted, the crash data is stored and used to help prevent future crashes through engineering, education and enforcement. The contributing factors are used by law enforcement to help us determine what caused it and how we can reduce crashes in the future.

Minnesota’s top five contributing factors from 2010-14:

 

Fatal crashes

1. Speeding

2. Fail to yield

3. Driver inattention

4. Chemical impairment

5. Driving left of center

 

Injury crashes

1. Drive inattention

2. Fail to yield

3. Speeding

4. Following too close

5. Weather

 

Property damage crashes

1. Driver inattention

2. Fail to yield

3. Speeding

4. Following too close

5. Weather

Statistics surrounding contributing factors to crashes are compiled by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety. The patrol uses this information to focus our enforcement efforts on educating the public on dangerous driving behaviors, which will hopefully lead to preventing crashes.

By paying attention, driving the speed limit, wearing your seat belt and never driving impaired, you can reduce your chances of being involved in a potentially life-changing crash.

If you have any questions concerning traffic-related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State Patrol, at 2900 48th St. NW, Rochester, MN 55901-5848.

He can also be reached at Troy.Christianson@state.mn.us.

 

Troy Christianson is a sergeant with the Minnesota State Patrol.