Minnesotans for Safe Driving
Dates, times and places of upcoming panels.
Minnesotans For Safe Driving has a crash car program designed to enlighten the public.
What is happening in the halls of Minnesota's Governing body!
Words of Comfort
MFSD volunteer news and opportunities.
MFSD Members care about what is happening on our roadways. Join MFSD Today!


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Court Cases in Your Neighborhood
Hennepin County Attorney's web site publishes information on some of the criminal cases pending in our courts today. Check it out...

How do drugs affect driving?

Whether prescription, over the counter or illegal drugs, they can impair driving skills including vision, reaction time, judgment, hearing, and simultaneous task processing/accomplishments. Driving requires other cognitive skills such as information processing and psychomotor skills, which may also be impaired by the use of drugs. When drugs are mixed with alcohol, the results can be devastating.

Alcohol alters the mind, affects thinking, judgment, slows reaction time and interferes with coordination. Tasks requiring divided attention are most sensitive to alcohol effects. The more a person drinks the more likely that person is to drive. Alcohol and other drug involvement are much more likely in nighttime crashes.

Marijuana is also mind altering. Thinking and reflexes are slowed, causing difficulty in responding to sudden unexpected events. A driver’s ability to “track” or stay in his lane, to brake quickly, and to maintain the correct distance between cars is affected.

Cocaine is a brain stimulant that causes anxiety, delusions, seizures, and lack of concentration, memory problems and blackouts. There is an increase in impulsive behavior with tendencies to take more risks and create confusion within the user. A person using cocaine maintains the illusions of being alert and stimulated although physical reactions are impaired. The most dramatic effects of cocaine and driving are on vision. Cocaine may cause higher sensitively to light, halos around bright objects, and difficulty focusing.

Tranquilizers and Barbiturates are particularly dangerous in conjunction with alcohol because the mixture increases the accident risk beyond that found with anyone on drugs alone. Particularly strong is the interaction between alcohol and diazepam (Valium).

Over the counter medications Alcohol can enhance some of the dangerous side effects of the medications so to make driving dangerous. Most drugs for colds, hay fever, allergy, or to calm nerves can make a person drowsy when alcohol is consumed.

With stimulant-based drugs, a driver would actually feel that they were a better driver while they were under its influence, but they would become much more likely to drive recklessly and dangerously.
With depressant-based drugs, the driver would lose any real anxiety about the dangers on the road and would not be able to react quickly to changing driving conditions.
With hallucinogenic drugs
reaction time will be altered and the driver’s ability to operate the vehicle will become erratic.

 

 
 

 

 

“Don’t let the two minutes you “save” on the road be the last two minutes of someone’s life.”

- Adapted from David Townsend  

Traffic safety is why we are Minnesotans For Safe Driving. Most of our members have experienced firsthand what happens when the driving public doesn’t put traffic safety first.

We developed this website to bring “up close and personal” the stories of how drunk driving and careless driving destroy lives; whether to the victim and their family or the family of the driver who caused the crash.

You'll find recent drunk driving statistics and many drunken driving facts to prove why choosing to drink and then drive is so dangerous. It will help you understand the workings of the court system, what rights victims have in the courts, teen issues, pending legislative issues and many more informational articles, facts, programs and links to related websites.

We hope that after visiting our site, you have learned some very important drunk driving and careless driving facts that will reinforce your commitment to drive “Safe and Sober”.

Finally, a special license plate is available that will benefit public safety. As of August 2010, a plate will be available which displays a broken heart with “Remembering Victims of Impaired Drivers” encircling it. This plate was designed by Barbara Degnan who lost her 20 year old son on Christmas Eve of 1992 to an impaired driver. It is her hope that the plates will remind drivers not to drive while impaired and prevent the heartache that families experience from loved ones dying or being severely injured at the hands of impaired drivers.

Any new special license plates in the State of Minnesota must be enacted by the legislature and signed by the governor. Barb Degnan and her husband John began this process five years ago with the help of Senators Geoff Michel and Steve Murphy and Representative Keith Downey, along with the continual support of Sharon Gehrman-Driscoll, Executive Director of Minnesotans For Safe Driving. It was finally passed into law this session. Since then the Department of Public Safety has been of great assistance in making the design a reality.

Reflecting on the importance of this new license plate, Nancy Johnson, President of Minnesotans For Safe Driving, said “hopefully, the symbol and the words will remind the driving public that driving is very dangerous and every driver needs to focus 100% on their driving. Driving with any impairment can be deadly“.

The plates are not only intended to honor those who have suffered a loss from an impaired driver, but to advocate safe driving. The plates can be purchased at any license bureau or ordered on line through the Department of Public Safety. The additional cost for the plate is only an additional $10, which goes to the State of Minnesota. If processing by email, you may download the application through the DPS site and mail it with your check to: Driver and Vehicle Services, 445 Minnesota Street, St. Paul, MN 55101-5164.

click here for Dan's story

 

DISTRACTIVE DRIVING-- ARE YOU AT FAULT?

By Nancy Johnson, Pres. MSD

Talking on your cell phone, texting, eating, putting on makeup, looking away from the road, etc., etc., etc.,  THESE ARE ALL FORMS OF DISTRACTIVE DRIVING and they are becoming the leading cause of death and injuries on our roadways. Right now Minnesota has a law against texting by ANY driver and all cell phone use is against the law for those on a provisional license. The other forms of distractive driving are not against the law except when a crash happens. BUT, is a life worth picking up that CD from the floor, putting on your makeup, communicating or texting while driving!!! Do you want to be in the position to have to apologize to the victim’s family in court or cause suffering to your family when they are notified of your death or the suffering you may have to go through because of the serious injury that you caused yourself.

Society now believes that impaired driving is unacceptable but driving impaired is not just driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it is driving while you are over stressed, distracted, or overly tired. Driving has become a habit and a “secondary” activity.  This is wrong. Driving must always be your number one priority.

A lot of talk surrounds the issue of cell phone use while driving. Many people think that hands- free cell phone use is the answer. According to every study I have seen, the problem is with the intensity of the conversation not how the phone is being held. Of course looking down to dial a number is distractive as is anytime your eyes leave the road.  All of us over the age of 25 managed just fine for our entire adult life not being available for contact 24/7.  Of course it is helpful to be able to use that time in the car, which seems like wasted time, to do our work and family calls, but lives are at risk, and no call is worth a life.

Minnesotans For Safe Driving is against the use of cell phones for calls or texting and all forms of distraction while driving. Keeping your eyes on the road isn’t enough unless your attention is also on the road. Drive like your life depends on it because it does.

For more information on distractive driving, look at these websites   www.distraction.gov  and www.focusdriven.org

 

 

IGNITION INTERLOCK BILL

Signed by the Governor

Sharon Driscoll, Nancy Johnson and Jon Cummings, board members of Minnesotans For Safe Driving, are among those pictured in the Governor's  Office for the signing of the legislation to require Ignition Interlock for convicted drunk drivers

After 2 years of a pilot program in Hennepin and Beltrami counties, the use of Ignition Interlock will be available all over the state and mandated for most DWI offender after July 1, 2011. The Ignition Interlock is a device connected to the ignition on a vehicle which makes it not possible to start the car if the driver has been drinking alcohol.

more on the story >         

 

 

As of February 2010, 41 cities or counties in Minnesota have passed Social Host Ordinances. A social host ordinance does not make it against the law to furnish alcohol to individuals under age 21, IT IS ALREADY ILLEGAL. The ordinance make it unlawful to provide an environment where underage drinking takes place.

Read more about social host ordinances at http://docs.sumn.org/socialhostordinancesFAQ.pdf

 

 

ARE DRUNK DRIVERS GETTING A BARGAIN

MSD saw this article in the Northfield News (Minnesota).  We thought it was such an excellent article that we wanted to share it with others. Permission was given by the author.

JACI SMITH, Regional Editor

In September 2004, Peter James Rappe, then 24, was driving down the 100 block of Woodley Street when he was pulled over by a Northfield police officer who had reason to believe Rappe was driving drunk. Tests on the scene and a Breathalyzer result confirmed the officer’s suspicions — Rappe blew over the legal limit of .08 percent blood alcohol content.
 

The officer gave Rappe a notice of revocation, which instantly removed his driving privileges, and issued an incident report that would later go to the city prosecutor as a recommendation Rappe be formally charged with DWI — driving while intoxicated. The city prosecutor offered Rappe a deal: probation for a year, random testing, and the license revocation in exchange for a careless driving conviction. Rappe agreed. That’s how he became part of a little known statistic in Rice County’s battle against drunk driving.

the story continues >     

 

WHY DO PEOPLE CONTINUE T0 DRINK AND DRIVE?

One evening about 6:30pm a Trooper responded to a driving compliant on a vehicle WB on 394. The caller stated a Mercedes was weaving all over the road and almost hit the center median wall. Trooper….was in the area and quickly located the correct vehicle and after noticing some additional driving conduct made the traffic stop. The Trooper made a passenger side approach and had to knock on the window to get the driver’s attention-the driver then tried to roll the window down by hitting the “up” button twice before finally figuring it out. Trooper….immediately noticed the odor of an alcoholic beverage and also noticed a pile of ashes from the drivers cigarette piled up on his/her lap. After the Standard Field Sobriety tests the person was offered the Preliminary Breath Test but couldn’t figure how to blow into it and just kept sticking his/her tongue into the mouthpiece. The individual was placed under arrest fro DWI and eventually tested.24. The driving record shows prior DWI conviction in 2003 & 2005 and his 2000 Mercedes was seized for forfeiture.

 

As you travel across the country laws are very different as to the use of cell phones and texting.
Check out this website for info on the states, cities and their laws. www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx
Remember that cell phone use is a big distraction and one that should not be used while driving.

KEY FACTS

  • Half of the 42,000 crash-related fatalities in the US
    each year occur on two-lane rural roads
  • Sixty-two percent of all alcohol-related fatalities
    Involving passenger vehicles occur on rural roads
  • Crash victims are five to seven times more likely to die if arrival
    to a hospital exceeds 30 minutes. The average time between a crash and hospital arrival is 52 minutes in rural areas.

Information taken from www.saferoads.org

Adult / Teen Victim Impact Panels
and volunteer opportunities
call 952-238-0970

2010 Legislative Report

Most of the changes made in this session involve DWIs, vehicles and traffic.

  • Ignition Interlock
  • DWI Blood Draw
  • Special Victim Plates
  • Forfeiture Laws
  • Bicycle Red Light
  • Vehicle Impounds
  • Enhanced Driver's License
  • Provisional Driver's License
  • Insurance for Minors
  • Glazed Windows
  • Expungement

(click here for more details)

 

Volunteers Help Make Minnesota Roads Safer!


SPECIAL THANKS!

To Ecreativeworks for their continuing support of our organization by donating server space for the hosting of the Minnesotans for safe driving web site.
www.ecreativeworks.com

 


2010 …..Our Latest DVDs

"Repercussions of Drunk Driving"

Sometimes it’s difficult to understand and sympathize with someone who has made a certain choices in their life. These choices have resulted in horrible repercussions that impact their life and the lives of others. As the saying goes “walk a mile in my shoes” and maybe you will understand; but hopefully you will never have to experience the terrible consequences. That is the goal of Minnesotans For Safe Driving’s latest version of “Repercussions of Drunk Driving 2010” and “Impaired and Distracted Driving 2010”. These DVDs contain compelling and emotional stories told by the offenders and the victims involved in fatal traffic crashes.  Our latest version of Repercussions of Drunk Driving,

Crash Dynamics

During a motor vehicle crash, three collisions happen:
The Vehicle Collision. This is what happens at the point of impact, whether it comes from the front, back or side. The vehicle begins stopping as soon as it collides with an object such as another vehicle, wall or tree.
The Human Collision. At the moment of impact (whether you are driving or not), you will be moving at the same speed as the car. If you are unbelted, whatever is in front of you (ie. steering wheel, windshield, front seat, another person, etc.) will stop you from moving. The human collision is the one that causes injury.
The Human Body’s Internal Collision. Even after you have come to a complete stop, your internal organs continue moving forward. Suddenly, these organs collide with other organs. This collision can cause considerable and potentially fatal injury.

With any of these collisions, you and your passengers have the best chance of reducing or avoiding injury if everyone is buckled up.

 
Minnesotans for Safe Driving
8700 West 36th Street, Suite 1E • St. Louis Park, MN 55426
email: info@mnsafedriving.com
Office (952) 238-0970
Fax (952) 238-0720
Toll Free 1-877-870-7466

 

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