(ABC 6 News) – Officials at Wednesday’s Toward Zero Deaths meeting addressed the growing concerns on Minnesota roads like distracted driving, driving through construction zones and impaired driving especially when it comes to cannabis use.

Since Toward Zero Deaths began in 2003, deaths on Minnesota roads have dropped 37 percent. Officials say that wouldn’t be possible without working together.

“This year we have a breakout session on our strategic highway safety plan and that’s again one thing trying to get some input and do some of these focus areas so we can better understand the issues and again trying to improve traffic safety,” said MnDOT District 6 Engineer Mark Schoenfelder.

Officials addressed construction zone safety but say drivers need to do their part too.

“So, what we really need form drivers is to pay attention, slow down and follow those signs and be aware of what they are doing in those work zones driving through those work zones at 50, 60, 70 miles an hour can really be hazardous to both the driver and the people working in those work zones,” said MnDOT Traffic Safety Engineer Derek Leuer.

But one of the big topics is cannabis. Now that it’s legal in Minnesota, law enforcement needs to find impaired drivers on the roads.

“We have these devices we are doing an oral fluid study now here in Minnesota were drug recognition evaluator. If we come into contact with someone we think or come into the opinion that we think they are impaired by a controlled substance, we can ask them to voluntarily to give an oral fluid sample into one these machines,” said Sgt. Eric Bromann with the Minnesota State Patrol.

The data from the device can have an impact on the officer’s report because it’s not a legal measurement of how someone is impaired, at least not yet.

“This information along with our opinion will be submitted to the Minnesota BCA and they will compile a report of our legislature and they will get those result in February 2025 to make a decision are these reliable devices,” said Sgt. Bromann.

Sgt. Bromann said he has used this new cannabis detection device six times and every time, the results were accurate compared to traditional testing. We’ll see what the legislature decides next session.