Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has rolled out an updated version of its DWI Dashboard, and for the first time in its history, it's available for public access. This tool provides detailed information on crashes and arrests that involve impaired driving within the state. Users of the system can delve into data, tailored by variables ranging from the specific locality up to statewide stats, with filters available for age, blood alcohol levels, and timing of incidents.
The initiative, according to BCA Superintendent Drew Evans, converges datasets in ways that enhance the comprehensibility of how impaired driving affects Minnesotan communities. "We're bringing the data together in a way that we hope will help both law enforcement and the public gain a better understanding of the impact of impaired driving on Minnesota communities," said Drew Evans, reportedly aiming to arm law enforcement and the public with more insightful data. In support of these objectives, the dashboard also charts a course to bolster preventative efforts.
Mike Hanson, the Director of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), highlighted the interplay between robust data and the efficacy of traffic safety programs. Hanson, shedding light on the ultimate goal of saving lives, stated, "Saving lives on Minnesota roads requires solid data that can inform traffic safety programs and change dangerous driving choices." He articulated the value of the DWI Dashboard, saying, "The DWI Dashboard gives our partners and now the public a valuable resource to make progress in preventing tragedy."
Initially developed in 2016 exclusively for law enforcement, the same DWI Dashboard has now been extended to the public gaze. The data can be gleaned in downloadable formats such as Excel and CSV. Where evidence is pending, or alcohol was ruled out as the impairment cause, a NULL or 0.00 alcohol content level might be displayed, which reflects that collected evidence is still being tested or the impairment may not have been due to alcohol or that the driver indicated they had been drinking but passed a field sobriety test. Although around 5 percent of DWI incidents are unmapable, they are all accounted for in the table included below the tool's map.
For those interested in examining the details and utilizing the new dashboard, it is hosted on the BCA's website under the Statistics/Reports section. The integration of data from diverse systems such as the BCA's eCharging system and the OTS MNCrash system underpins the DWI Dashboard's comprehensive approach.
