The number of traffic crashes on Minnesota roads declined for a third year in a row in 2010, according to numbers released this week from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

According to the data, there were 411 traffic deaths in 2010, which is the lowest count on record since 1944 when 356 people were killed in the state.

The fatalities included 305 motorists, 45 motorcyclists, 36 pedestrians, nine bicyclists, eight ATV riders, three moped riders, three snowmobilers and two farm equipment occupants.

Seventy-four percent of the crashes occurred in the 80 counties of Greater Minnesota.

“The continuing drop in road fatalities is a clear and positive signal that motorists are making safe decisions behind the wheel,” said Mona Dohman, commissioner of the Department of Public Safety. “To build on this momentum, we’ll continue our focus of enhanced enforcement and education campaigns to combat the ongoing threats on the roads such as drunk, aggressive and distracted drivers.”

Albert Lea Police Chief Dwaine Winkels said he thinks the decreased fatalities can be attributed to several traffic safety campaigns, including the Toward Zero Deaths campaign. These campaigns focus on seat belt use, speeding and impaired driving.

The Department of Public Safety also cites legislation passed in recent years, including stronger teen graduated driver’s licensing laws, bans on texting and emailing and the primary seat belt and booster seat law.

“Nearly every crash is preventable, and preventing these tragic crashes comes down to drivers paying attention and taking simple steps to stay safe behind the wheel,” said Donna Berger, acting director of the Office of Traffic Safety. “That includes driving at safe speeds, being patient and never take the risk of driving impaired.”

According to the Department of Public Safety, driver inattention and distraction were the most common factors in 2010 crashes. Failure to yield right of way and illegal speeds were other common factors.

Winkels said driver inattention and distraction are also the most common factors of crashes locally.

In Greater Minnesota, in general, he said, people sometimes become complacent, thinking they can go faster or get somewhere quickly without the need for a seat belt.

“It’s a false sense of security,” Winkels said.

Some of the highlights of the 2010 report include the following:

• Of the 305 vehicle occupants killed, 148 people were belted. Fifty-five percent of people not belted were ejected from their vehicles.

• Alcohol-related deaths dropped from 141 in 2009 to 131 in 2010. This is the lowest count since 1984, when this was first measured.

• Motorcycle deaths decreased from 53 in 2009 to 45 in 2010. According to the Department of Public Safety, the surge of boomer-age riders is becoming more experienced and less likely to crash.

Ridership is at an all-time high.

• There were 41 teenage deaths (ages 15 to 19) in 2010, compared to 38 in 2009.

• Pedestrian deaths decreased from 41 deaths in 2009 to 36 deaths in 2010.

So far in 2011, there have been 125 road deaths compared to 156 deaths at this same time in 2010. The state’s goal is to record an annual death count of 375 or fewer deaths by 2014.

• The nine bicyclist deaths in 2010 were a decrease from the 10 fatalities in 2009.