Caitlin Atkinson, Vision Zero coordinator for northeast North Dakota, briefed the commission Sept. 2 on county crash data and outreach plans, urging school-based education and community engagement to reduce serious injury and fatal crashes.
Atkinson said the county recorded 98 serious‑injury crashes from 2019 to 2023 and 27 fatal crashes in the same period, with trends showing roughly half of serious and fatal crashes occur within city limits and half on rural roads. She said about 54% of serious‑injury crashes in the data were single‑vehicle events, and roughly 75% of serious‑injury crashes and nearly 75% of fatal crashes occurred on dry road surfaces and during daylight hours.
Atkinson described Vision Zero work with schools and communities, including launching Larimore High School as a Vision Zero school and plans to screen student leaders, engage staff and produce PSAs and safety materials in other area high schools. She said outreach will include materials for families on laws and safe operation of off‑road vehicles, UTVs and golf carts.
During questions, commissioners asked whether crashes were more frequent in rural or urban areas; Atkinson said the split is “fairly evenly” divided and noted the county’s larger population in Grand Forks affects where crashes occur. She also said the state tracks contributing factors such as speed and that the county will monitor upcoming changes in interstate speed limits as part of the DOT’s documented factors in crash reports.
Atkinson said Vision Zero services to counties, including data and school programming, are provided at no cost to local governments; funding for the program is passed through the North Dakota Department of Transportation and reimbursed to the sheriff’s office that houses the coordinator position.