Motor Vehicle Crashes
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injury death and disability in Minnesota and in the United States.
The four most common behaviors associated with fatal and serious motor vehicle crash injuries in Minnesota are:
- Speeding
- Not wearing a seatbelt
- Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
- Driving while distracted
The Minnesota Department of Health is committed to preventing traffic fatalities and serious injuries.
Toward Zero Deaths (TZD)
Minnesota Toward Zero Death is Minnesota’s cornerstone traffic safety program that brings together the expertise of key programs across the state to reduce traffic crashes, injuries, and deaths on Minnesota’s roads.
The initiative’s vision is to ultimately reach zero traffic deaths.
TZD is a joint effort with involvement from:
- Minnesota Departments of Transportation
- Minnesota Department of Public Safety
- Minnesota Department of Health
- University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies
The Minnesota Department of Health manages, analyzes, and shares key data with partners, decision makers, and the public. This data is used to improve prevention programing and inform traffic safety policy.
Minnesota Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES)
Law enforcement collects and reports on data after a crash, providing key insight on behaviors, like distracted driving, that may have contributed to injuries or fatalities. MDH expands on this data by linking crash and driving risk behaviors to health outcomes. This system helps us understand how certain behaviors impact health outcomes after a crash.
From 1992 to 2013, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) partnered with states to develop Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) linkage programs. State CODES programs became fully independent in 2013. In Minnesota, linked crash and hospital discharge data are currently available for 2006-2012 and 2016-2023.
Visit the Minnesota Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) Dashboard for statewide data and data for each TZD region.
Contact
Questions? Reach out to us at health.injuryprevention@state.mn.us
