Kathy Cooper receives top safety award at the 21st annual Toward Zero Deaths conference
The statewide awards are presented to those who work to save lives on Minnesota roadways
St. Cloud, Minn. – Six people and one radio station were honored recently for their outstanding work to reduce the number of life-changing crashes on Minnesota roads. Each of the seven received a 2024 Toward Zero Deaths Award during a ceremony attended by more than 800 of the state’s leading traffic safety professionals meeting in St. Cloud for Minnesota’s 21st annual State TZD conference.
The prestigious traffic safety awards are presented annually by the Minnesota departments of health, public safety and transportation. The awards recognize outstanding work and accomplishments to improve traffic safety and reduce the number of people who are killed or seriously injured while traveling Minnesota roads.
TZD’s top honor goes to Kathy Cooper, Rice County TZD Coalition
Kathy Cooper of Kenyon, and formerly of Aitkin, received TZD’s top honor – the Kathy Swanson Outstanding Service Award. Cooper’s 25 years of tireless work to save lives on Minnesota roads began after the tragic death of her 15-year-old daughter, Meghan, who was an unbelted passenger killed in an impaired-driver crash on June 9, 1999. Cooper’s advocacy played a pivotal role in passing Minnesota’s primary seat belt law which took effect on June 9, 2009, in honor of Meghan.
“I was so impressed when [Kathy] took responsibility for fighting for the primary seatbelt law that would include mandating seatbelts for those in the back seat. Her daughter would probably have lived if she was wearing a belt,” said Nancy Johnson, Minnesotans for Safe Driving. ““But it wasn't the law and Meghan was a teenager at the time. Kathy would walk around the Capital wearing a seatbelt and probably visited every legislator. I really believe that if it wasn't for her, the primary seatbelt law would not have passed at that time. She was invited to be at the signing of the bill,” Johnson said.
Cooper also helped establish Rice County’s TZD Safe Roads Coalition and Rice County’s JOYRIDE sober cab program. She assists with coordinating mock crashes and safety fairs at high schools and has partnered with law enforcement on multiple traffic safety education efforts, including the Rice County Fair. Her years of exceptional leadership and accomplishments have improved traffic safety in southeast Minnesota and throughout the state.
“Kathy is often called upon to provide insight and guidance to other coalition coordinators across the state, due to her extensive knowledge and expertise in setting up new traffic safety programs and outreach events,” said Jessica Schleck, southeast Minnesota TZD regional coordinator.
About TZD awards
The Kathy Swanson Outstanding Service Award recognizes an individual who has shown exceptional leadership in efforts to improve traffic safety in Minnesota, build partnerships, and mentor others in the field. This individual will also have demonstrated a long-term passion, dedication, and commitment to reducing the number of deaths and injuries resulting from crashes on Minnesota roads.
TZD awards are presented annually to individuals and organizations in Minnesota that show excellence in TZD’s emphasis areas of enforcement, emergency medical and trauma services, education, engineering, child passenger safety and judicial/court systems. Award recipients have shown their leadership and creative capacities in efforts to improve traffic safety throughout the state and build partnerships.
Toward Zero Deaths is Minnesota’s core traffic safety program. The Minnesota TZD program is an interdisciplinary partnership led by the state departments of health, transportation and public safety. This collaboration began in 2003 and has worked to reduce roadway fatalities by 33 percent.
A primary vision of the TZD program is to create a safe driving culture in Minnesota in which motorists support a goal of zero road fatalities by practicing and promoting safe driving behavior. TZD focuses on the application of four strategic areas to reduce crashes: education, enforcement, engineering and emergency medical and trauma response. Learn more about TZD and how to get involved at www.minnesotatzd.org.
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For more information, please contact Kristine Hernandez at kristine.hernandez@state.mn.us.