Hennepin County Attorney’s Office launches campaign targeting dangerous driving

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office (HCAO), joined at a press conference by the Minnesota Safety Council, Hennepin County Toward Zero Deaths, and Our Streets, announced the start of a campaign focused on addressing dangerous driving throughout the summer.

As part of the campaign, the office will join local traffic safety events, visit schools and youth centers, collaborate with state and local offices focused on traffic safety, hold town halls focused on dangerous driving, and incorporate the topic into its ongoing library tour.

“So many of the heartbreaking tragedies we see on our roads and highways are entirely preventable,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. “It is a choice to drive too fast, to be on your phone, to not wear a seatbelt, and to drive under the influence. When we make safe choices behind the wheel, we help everyone get home safely, and we avoid the horrible consequences of dangerous driving.”

In 2024, there were nearly 480 traffic deaths in Minnesota and nearly 24,000 people were injured. In Hennepin County, there were 55 fatalities due to crashes.

The most common types of felony traffic cases submitted to HCAO are criminal vehicular homicide (CVH), criminal vehicular operation (CVO), and felony DWI.

These incidents led to deaths, injuries, and many instances of potentially catastrophic results – many of which were entirely preventable.

“We’re grateful to have the opportunity to collaborate with these organizations as we kick off this campaign,” County Attorney Moriarty said. “Their firsthand experience of tackling these safety challenges is invaluable; working together to highlight the critical importance of safe driving will only have positive benefits for the residents of Hennepin County.”

Guests:

Lisa Kons, Traffic Safety and Advocacy Director, Minnesota Safety Council

“It doesn’t matter what their jobs are – the most dangerous thing employees do is drive. Whether they’re commuting, running errands or traveling for leisure, choices they and other drivers make on the road can have a devasting impact on co-workers, families and communities. They can also result in lost work time and increased healthcare costs. Employers can make a difference by promoting safe driving practices.”

Tom Musick, Toward Zero Deaths Coordinator, Hennepin County

“Hennepin County participates in the Toward Zero Deaths campaign, which strives to reduce severe and fatal crashes for all road users. The county is developing a Toward Zero Deaths Action Plan to identify and upgrade roadways along our transportation system with the highest concentrations of fatal and serious injury crashes.”

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