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Jul 28, 2008 6:52 pm US/Central
New Website Tracks Deadliest Roads, Driving Habits
ST. PAUL (WCCO) ―
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Users type in their address and images of crashes within a 10-mile radius pop up, along with details pertaining to the crash. (File)
AP
Vehicle crashes kill 42,000 people nationwide and 500 Minnesotans every year. There's a new high-tech way to let drivers know how many fatal crashes have happened on every roadway in the country.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute developed the website pinpointing the country's deadliest roads. It was created to save lives.
SafeRoadMaps.org went online Monday and is already getting rave reviews at the Purple Onion coffee shop.
"Well it's really cool," said Pat Weinberg, the owner of the shop.
The site maps out every road fatality in the country.
"I think it's fantastic for the road people to find out so they can stop to, so they can do something about the intersections that are bad and stuff," he added.
Users type in their address and images of crashes within a 10-mile radius pop up, along with details like the age of the driver and whether speed, alcohol or not wearing a seatbelt played a part in the crash.
Researchers determined that the two main causes of fatal crashes are drunk driving and not using a seatbelt. They estimated that 50 lives a year in Minnesota could be saved by using seatbelts.
"When it's actually something personal you start to really realize that every person who dies in a car crash has a family, has a story, had something, a dream that they wanted to accomplish and that what makes it so much more sad," said Meg Dennison, a customer at the coffee shop.
The website was originally intended to help lawmakers improve road safety.
"We wouldn't accept these kinds of fatalities in airplane crashes. People would not accept it," said Humphrey Center Fellow Lee Munnich.
Drivers can benefit too.
"People really can put the pressure on policy makers to make the change," added Dennison.
Researchers also hope the website increases awareness and prompts safer driving behavior.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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