News

This news page features news about the Center for Excellence in Rural Safety, and about rural safety issues in general.

2008

CERS Director Lee Munnich on the Rural Transportation Safety Clearinghouse
AgriTalk, July 7, 2008

Buckling up
Alabama Times Daily, January 21, 2008

State statistics show about 50 percent of drivers use seat belts on Alabama's rural county roads. In a study by the University of Minnesota Center for Rural Safety, 57 percent of fatalities occurred on rural roads, even though only 21 percent of the nation's population is generally considered rural.

2007

U of M study says safety attitudes behind the wheel are vastly different between rural and urban drivers
University of Minnesota video news release, December 18, 2007

University researchers have found that rural drivers are more complacent when it comes to common safety practices on the road than their urban counterparts. Research fellow Mick Rakauskas, with the HumanFIRST Program in the ITS Institute, discovered that drivers in rural areas practiced riskier driving behaviors and were less aware of the danger in doing so, especially when it comes to driving while under the influence and not using a seatbelt.

During Biggest Travel Weekend, Be Aware of States Lacking Strong Seat Belt Laws (2 MB PDF)
CERS news release, November 20, 2007

Thanksgiving marks the heaviest travel weekend of the year and that means large increases the number of fatal car crashes particularly in rural areas. The national Center for Excellence in Rural Safety (CERS) at the University of Minnesota today released an analysis showing a strong connection between states lacking strong seat belt laws and states with a high proportion of fatalities on rural roads.

CERS Institute explores public health aspects of rural transportation safety
From CTS Report, September, 2007

Speakers explored the connections between rural transportation safety and community health at the Center for Excellence in Rural Safety's annual Summer Institute, held at the University of Vermont (UVM) in Burlington on July 30 and 31.

Where is the most dangerous place to travel over the holiday?
CERS news release, June 28, 2007

Just in time for the most dangerous days of the year to drive—July 3 and 4—the national Center for Excellence in Rural Safety (CERS) at the University of Minnesota today released a list of the states where Americans are more likely to die in a traffic crash on a rural road.

2006 Minnesota highway toll lowest in 60 years
From Star Tribune, June 20, 2007

Minnesota recorded 494 traffic-related fatalities in 2006, the fewest number deaths on state roads in more than 60 years, according to a report released by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

Eagan Students Participate In New Driving Study
From WCCO, May 28, 2007

(WCCO) Some Twin Cities parents have a high-tech way to see what their teen drivers are doing on the road. A couple dozen students at Eagan High School will be part of a first of its kind study of teens driving in an urban environment.

Less jail for fatal DWIs spurs anger, fuels debate
From Star Tribune, April 29, 2007

Despite protests, some judges say intervention - instead of straight jail time - has helped keep more DWI offenders from driving drunk again.

Improved deer signage being tested
Minnesota LTAP Exchange newsletter, Winter 2007

New safety information resource: Real-Time Projected Annual U.S. Vehicle
Related Fatalities and Crashes
Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Site

16 states see road deaths slashed
From USA Today, January 30, 2007

Police: crackdown on speeding helped reduce traffic fatalities
From The Boston Globe, January 8, 2007

Star Tribune Editorial: Continue to reduce state's traffic deaths
From Star Tribune, January 4, 2007

Legislature should push for tougher seat-belt enforcement.

2006

Center for Excellence in Rural Safety presentation (2.4 MB PDF, page 18)
From 2006 Toward Zero Deaths Conference Proceedings

Danger lurks on rural roads
Duluth News Tribune, September 19, 2006

Summer Institute addresses themes, strategies for rural safety center
CTS Report, September 2006

Experts Address Rural Highway Safety, Research Needs (112 KB PDF, page 3)
The AASHTO Journal, Weekly Transportation Report, July 28, 2006

2005

State and Local Policy Program to study rural safety (PDF)
Humphrey Institute News, November/December 2005

SAFETEA-LU: CTS to receive $16 million; Rural Safety Center established at Humphrey Institute
CTS Report, October 2005

Oberstar hears rural safety research at special briefing
CTS Report, April 2005