McLeod County Toward Zero Deaths

05/27/2026

Summer is calling, and that means epic road trips, weekend getaways, and quality time with family and friends. However, because the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are historically the most traveled – and the most dangerous days on roads, law enforcement is stepping up patrols through the summer. They will be heavily targeting the "Big Four" behaviors that contribute to the most crashes: speeding, distracted driving, driving while impaired, and not wearing a seat belt.

It’s easy to treat the daily commute or weekend drive as routine, but the reality is that the road can be unpredictable. According to safety experts, most crashes are the result of choices made behind the wheel. Last year alone, between May 26 and September 1, there were 111 fatalities on Minnesota roads.

The breakdown reveals the tragic truth that these 111 fatalities were preventable.
• Never drive impaired: 37 deaths involved alcohol.
• Slow down: 31 deaths involved speeding.
• Buckle up: 16 deaths involved a victim not wearing a seat belt.
• Stay focused: 5 deaths involved a distracted driver.

Making the conscious choice to slow down, buckle up, stay focused, and drive sober can mean the difference between life and death – for you, your loved ones, and everyone else on the road. Together, we can drive Minnesota toward zero deaths.

05/26/2026

As we approach graduation, we encourage you to follow these rules:
🚘 drive sober
🚘buckle up
🚘slow down
🚘 and put the phone down

A big thank you to those involved in this year's mock crash event presented at Hutchinson High School:

• Hutchinson High School teachers and students
• Hutchinson HS Principal Telecky
• Hutchinson HS custodial staff (wrecking crew)
• Hutchinson Fire
• Hutchinson Police
• Allina Ambulance
• McLeod County Sheriff’s Office
• Minnesota State Patrol
• Hantge Funeral Chapel
• Brad Bigler
• Dostal Electronics
• Cars on Patrol
• Randy Starke
• Jerod Weckman
• South Central EMS

We appreciate your support for McLeod TZD Safe Roads Coalition and working together to decrease traffic-related injuries and fatalities in McLeod County through collaborative and preventive partnership efforts.

05/19/2026

As we head into the warmer months, many are dusting off bicycles to enjoy the sunshine, commute, or get some exercise. Since May is National Bike Safety Month, it is the perfect time to share a few quick reminders to help keep both cyclists and drivers safe on the road this summer.

For Cyclists: Gear Up & Stay Alert
• Check your equipment: Ensure your tires are properly inflated, seats are locked, and your bike is equipped with reflectors.
• Wear a helmet: Every rider, every time. Make sure it fits snugly – two finger-widths above your eyebrow, with the chin strap securely fastened.
• Be visible: Wear bright or reflective clothing and use flashing lights if riding at night.
• Follow the rules: Obey all traffic laws, ride single-file in the direction of traffic, and always use hand signals.

For Drivers: Share the Road
• Practice the "far-hand reach": When parking, use your hand furthest from the door to open it. This forces you to turn your body and check your blind spot for oncoming cyclists before opening the door.
• Give space: Always stay alert and give cyclists plenty of room on the road.

Safety is a shared responsibility and integrating simple, mindful habits into our daily routines can help assure everyone makes it home at the end of the day. Together, we can drive Minnesota toward zero deaths.

My kids are so excited to practice walking and biking during school, and are enthusiastic to involve our whole family once they come home. – Erin L, parent of 5th […]

04/24/2026

I waited for your help with my math homework. I kept looking at the door, hoping you’d walk in. But you were speeding. Now you’re never coming home. Someone is waiting for you. Slow down. Pay attention.

04/22/2026

You were the fun uncle — the one who made every moment an adventure. Now the only adventure left is learning to live without you… because you drove too fast. We could have had so many more good times. Don’t let speed steal them.

04/21/2026

With construction season kicking off and "spring fever" in the air, it’s time for an important reminder to motorists to slow down and stay alert behind the wheel. This week marks National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW), and this year’s theme, "Safe Actions Save Lives," serves as a vital reminder that together, we can drive Minnesota toward zero deaths. The annual campaign is held at the start of construction season to encourage safer driving through work zones and to remind road workers of the importance of staying alert.

The stakes are incredibly high – in 2023 alone, nationwide, nearly 900 people died in work zone crashes. Notably, the vast majority of those killed were the drivers and passengers themselves. To drive this message home, the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Office of Maintenance is partnering with the Office of Traffic Engineering and Construction to set up a powerful, visual display on I-35. They placed 54 barrels, each one representing a fallen MnDOT worker, along a mile-long stretch on the right shoulders between Forest Lake and Faribault. The display also includes message boards that read: “Each Barrel Equals One Worker Fatality, Drive with Care, We Rely on You.”

Share these work zone safety tips with friends and family to help them understand the dangers road workers face every day. Understanding that the risks are real can change the way people drive.
• Eyes up, phone down: Distracted drivers are the biggest threat; maintain constant 360-degree awareness and face traffic whenever possible.
• The "Exit Plan": Always have an escape route in mind and stay alert for screeching tires and horns.
• Be seen: Ensure your high-vis PPE is clean, in good condition and worn correctly.
• Park smart: Use work vehicles as a buffer between the crew and traffic and keep all activity and equipment within the designated work zone whenever possible.

Whether you earn a living on the roads or travel them to get home, it is vital to stay focused – especially in work zones. Your life and the lives of others depend on it. Together we can drive Minnesota toward zero deaths.

04/20/2026

Today marks the start of ATSSA’s National Work Zone Awareness Week, an annual reminder that safe actions save lives! 🚧

Did you know that over 100,000 crashes occur in work zones annually? Workers, commuters, and pedestrians are all affected. Let’s keep roadway workers and each other safe. Your actions behind the wheel can be forever. When you see the orange cones, it’s a sign to put down the phone and slow down.

Because everyone deserves to make it home.

04/17/2026

They say it’s a dog’s life… and mine was great. Walks, games, treats. Life with my best friend was awesome. Then you took your eyes off the road in heavy traffic. Now I’m a lonely dog waiting forever to fetch the good times back.

03/31/2026

April showers are just around the corner – and so is the month-long Distracted Driving campaign! The awareness and enforcement campaign that kicks off April 1 will run through April 30. Department of Public Safety's Office of Traffic Safety will be hosting a news conference tomorrow announcing the start of the campaign.

While taking your eyes off the road or hands off the steering wheel present obvious risks, activities that take a driver's mind away from driving are just as risky. They can include daydreaming, putting attention toward something outside of the vehicle, eating, reaching for items, changing music, and dealing with rowdy passengers or kids. Distracted driving is anything that takes your attention away from the road.

Distractions of any kind are all potentially deadly:
• Visual distraction - looking away from the road.
• Physical distraction - taking your hands off the wheel to do something else.
• Cognitive distraction - being lost in thought.
• Using electronic devices combines all of these elements - like texting or snapchatting while driving.

Be part of the solution when it comes to distracted driving. Start by setting a good example for your kids or anyone in the vehicle by parking the phone. Then take a moment to sync your music and confirm your route so your focus stays on the road. And when you feel the urge to reach for a distraction, think about how it feels to share the road with someone who isn't paying attention. Together, we can drive Minnesota toward zero deaths.

03/25/2026

In Minnesota, moving over is a simple yet powerful way to show respect for those who serve and protect us. When you see flashing lights, you are approaching someone’s "office." These lights are a signal that someone’s life may be at risk and responders are working hard to help. Just as we expect a safe place to work, law enforcement, paramedics and tow operators need room to do their jobs safely.

Lives Behind the Sirens
The Ted Foss Move Over Law is named in honor of State Patrol Corporal Ted Foss, who was tragically killed in 2000 by a passing vehicle while on a traffic stop.
• Move over: When you see flashing lights on a road with two or more lanes going the same direction, move over one full lane to give responders room to work. This includes moving over for vehicles such as ambulance, fire, law enforcement, road maintenance and construction vehicles.
• Slow down: If traffic doesn't allow for a lane change, you must slow down and pass with extra caution.
• Disabled vehicles: This law also protects people in stalled or disabled vehicles with their hazards on.

Stay Focused, Stay Safe
It’s natural to be curious when we see activity on the roadside, but staying focused is the best way to help.
• Eyes on the road: Resisting the urge to "gawk" helps prevent secondary crashes and keeps traffic flowing smoothly.
• Avoid the distraction: Sometimes drivers unintentionally steer toward what they are looking at. Keep your eyes on the clear path ahead to ensure the safety of those working on the shoulder.

Whether you are driving for personal or professional reasons, it is important to remember our role in keeping Minnesota’s first responders safe. By staying alert and giving them space, we can help ensure everyone makes it home safely. Together, we can drive Minnesota toward zero deaths.