Education

Promotional materials

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) provides educational marketing materials targeting traffic safety issues.

Group presentations

Public and private entities can receive free traffic safety presentations from a Minnesota State Patrol (MSP) safety education officer (SEO). If you are interested in having an SEO talk about the importance of seat belts, child safety seats and other traffic safety issues with your organization, visit that Patrol's Web site and select the area in which you reside.

News media

Getting the local media interested in traffic safety issues is an effective way of bringing attention to your coalition's activities. Reporters are often eager to develop local interest stories focusing on the work of community groups. Minnesota DPS has created news releases on safety-related subjects that community groups can use to work with their local news media.

Public events

Public gatherings or events are a great opportunity to get your message out. Fairs, local festivals, and other events often allow community groups to set up displays or tables.

• Several banners with the "Buckle Up—Minnesota" message are available to be borrowed for community events through the Office of Traffic Safety. To request a banner, call 651-296-6653.

• The Crash Car Program is a valuable teaching tool that shows the deadly effects of people who drink and drive. The cars have been graciously donated to MADD by the victim's families, survivors and/or offenders. To have a crash car at your event, download the Request Form and return it to the MADD MN State Office via e-mail (codie.kramer@madd.org) or fax (651-523-0817).  

Employers

Employers can receive free resources and assistance through the Minnesota Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS). This project is a public-private partnership jointly sponsored by the Minnesota Safety Council and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. MN NETS is a program dedicated to helping employers prevent traffic crashes and injuries by focusing on seat belt use, speed, and impaired and distracted driving.

Education Resources & Links

• Successful Approaches for the Development of an Organization-Wide Safety Culture in Transportation Agencies
  Results of a scan identifying successful practices within government organizations and the private sector that successfully improve safety through targeted organizational safety culture approaches.
• Motor Vehicle Prioritizing Interventions and Cost Calculator for States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  An interactive calculator designed to help state decision makers prioritize and select from a suite of 12 effective motor vehicle injury prevention interventions.
• Minnesota Highway Safety & Research Center, St. Cloud State University
  Courses and training for novice drivers, older drivers, law enforcement, and others
• StreetSmarts: A Common Sense Guide to Traffic Safety
  A free safety publication from AAA and the Minnesota Safety Council that provides practical tips and engaging activities to educate both novice and experienced drivers. 
• Minnesota Department of Public Safety—Office of Traffic Safety
  Many resources related to roadway safety and accident reduction, including current and past issues of Minnesota Motor Vehicle Crash Facts
• Minnesota Traffic Safety Resource Catalog (Department of Public Safety)
  Customizable, professionally designed education/advertising materials
• Child Passenger Safety Program (Department of Public Safety)
  Information and guidelines for keeping children safe in vehicles
• The Minnesota State Patrol has created a powerful presentation and the highway safety videos "Forever Young" and “How to Save a Life.” For information about bringing this presentation to your school, contact eric.roeske@state.mn.us with the State Patrol. You can also watch a special KMSP-TV Fox 9 news report on the video, In-Depth: How to Save a Life.
• Public Information and Education in the Promotion of Highway Safety
  Transportation Research Board, 2007
  NCHRP Research Results Digest 322
  Assesses the role of public information and education programs in contributing to behavior change in highway safety.
• Minnesota Safety Council– traffic safety resources
  Courses and other educational tools from a private, not-for-profit organization
• Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
  Campaigns and resource materials for reducing impaired driving by adults
• Rural Highway Safety Clearinghouse - Education section
  The Rural Highway Safety Clearinghouse provides links to safety publications and other resources, organized by topic.
• Motorcycle Rider Training
  Motorcycle safety efforts contributed to a drop in crash fatalities to their lowest level in five years. For more information on Motorcycle Rider Training, call 800-407-6677.