Read the safety data

Traffic Safety Data

• Native American & Black residents are disproportionately impacted by traffic deaths

• Crashes are concentrated in neighborhoods with People of Color and people of lower incomes

• Bicyclists and pedestrians are overrepresented in severe and fatal crashes

• Speed is a major factor in crashes 

• Five unsafe behaviors lead to crashes

• Read more safety data

Native American and Black residents are disproportionately impacted by traffic deaths

Source: NHTSA Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool for 2009-2018 and United States Census Bureau 2010-2019.

Native American and Black residents of Minneapolis were disproportionately impacted by traffic deaths over 10 years from 2009-2018. This means that, when compared to their population size, traffic deaths affect them more than other groups. 

Native American residents impacts

Native American residents are 1% of Minneapolis population, but are 4% of people killed in traffic crashes.

Black residents impacts

Black residents are 19% of Minneapolis population, but are 26% of people killed in traffic crashes.

More residents impact (Not disproportionately affected)

Latino residents are 10% of the population and are 9% of people killed in traffic crashes.

White and Asian residents are less likely to die in traffic crashes.

Crashes are more concentrated in lower income neighborhoods

Traffic crashes per resident with demographic trends

• 36 percent of all crashes happened in ACP50 Census tracts.
• 28 percent of the population lives in ACP50 Census tracts (2012 - 2016 data).
• 40 percent of all crashes outside of downtown occurred in ACP50 Census tracts.
• 70 percent of ACP50 census tracts have more than 200 crashes per 1,000 residents.
• Only 40 percent of all Minneapolis census tracts have more than 200 crashes per 1,000 residents.
• 33 of the 116 Minneapolis tracts (29 percent) are labeled as ACP50 Tracts.

What "Areas of Concentrated Poverty 50 (ACP50) census tracts" means

These are lower income neighborhoods where 50% of neighborhoods are People of Color.

Crashes in lower income neighborhoods

• 28% of Minneapolis residents live in ACP50 areas.
• 43% of all severe injury and deadly crashes happen in these neighborhoods.
• These accidents happen on 24% of our Minneapolis streets.

Bicyclists and pedestrians overrepresented in severe traffic injuries and deaths

Pedestrians

People in Minneapolis make 15 percent of their trips by walking or rolling. These pedestrians are 29 percent of severe traffic injuries and deaths.

Bicyclists

People in Minneapolis make 4 percent of their trips by bicycle. Bicyclists are 16 percent of severe traffic injuries and deaths.

Other groups (not overrepresented)

People in Minneapolis make 67 percent of their trips by automobile. Automobile crashes make up 55 percent of severe traffic injuries and deaths.

Speed is a major factor in crashes

Why traffic speed matters for safety

Higher traffic speeds make crashes more likely to happen. It also makes crashes more likely to end in severe injury or death. This is especially true for people walking or rolling and biking.

• A person hit at 20 miles per hour has a 13% likelihood of suffering a severe injury or dying.

• A person hit at 30 miles per hour has a 40% likelihood of suffering a severe injury or dying.

• A person hit at 40 miles per hour has a 73% likelihood of suffering a severe injury or dying.

The risk of severe injury or death is higher for older adults.

(National research)

Five unsafe behaviors lead to most crashes

The five behaviors that lead to the most severe and fatal crashes on Minneapolis streets 

• Red light running

• Speeding

• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

• Unsafe turning (failing to yield the right-of-way when turning)

• Distracted driving

Source: Analysis of crash dataset used in the 2019 Vision Zero Crash Study.