ST. PAUL — Minnesotans will increasingly drive the streets, roads and interstates for outdoor fun as summer approaches. To keep it a safe time as people travel, law enforcement is participating in a statewide extra speed enforcement and awareness campaign from May 1 through Sept. 2.
A driver speeding past you on the interstate is scary enough, but many speeding-related fatalities occur on other roads that are designed for lower speeds and have intersections, oncoming traffic and pedestrians. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 87 percent of all speeding-related traffic deaths across the U.S. occurred on non-interstate roads in 2022.
Officers, deputies and troopers will be looking for speeders endangering their own lives and the lives of others. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is coordinating the campaign with NHTSA funding and additional money approved by state legislators. The campaign includes extra patrols and advertising in support of the Toward Zero Deaths traffic safety program.
“We’ve all been there while driving. You’re running late to an activity, or stressed about a work project, or annoyed at the seemingly clueless driver ahead of you,” said OTS Director Mike Hanson. “Take a breath and don’t take out life’s frustrations on the road through speeding and aggressive driving. Traffic deaths are well ahead of last year at this time. We have to work together to stay safe as we look forward to Memorial Day and summertime fun.”
Speeding leads to tragedy
As of April 30, 100 people have died on Minnesota roads due to speeding, impairment and other dangerous driving choices compared to 69 last year at this time. While getting a ticket may be a primary concern when speeding, drivers should worry about far more dangerous consequences:
- In 2023, 115 motorists died in speed-related crashes (preliminary).
- During the 100 deadliest days (Memorial Day to Labor Day) in the past five years, preliminary numbers show that 246 people lost their lives in speed-related crashes (2019-2023).
- Speed contributed to an average of 92 deaths per year from 2014-2018, but an average of 123 deaths per year from 2019-2023.
Through April 21, preliminary numbers show speed-related deaths for this year are comparable with the past two years, but even one death is one too many.
Speed-related traffic fatalities, Jan. 1-April 21
- 26 in 2024
- 22 in 2023
- 29 in 2022
- 43 in 2021
- 22 in 2020
- 18 in 2019
- 35 in 2018
Reduce your speed. Reduce your chance of a crash.
Watching your speed and driving to road conditions:
- Gives you more vehicle control.
- Allows you to respond more quickly to changing conditions, such as bad weather, road construction, or in an area at night that isn’t well lit.
- Decreases the severity of the impact during a crash.
Give yourself room to react
- Drivers should keep a three-second following distance to allow for safe stopping and reaction to other vehicles.
- It takes more than the length of a football field to stop when traveling at 60 miles per hour.
Visit DriveSmartMN.org to learn more about staying safe on the road.
About the Minnesota Department Public Safety
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) comprises 10 divisions where 2,100 employees operate programs in the areas of law enforcement, crime victim assistance, traffic safety, alcohol and gambling, emergency communications, fire safety, pipeline safety, driver licensing, vehicle registration and emergency management. DPS activity is anchored by three core principles: education, enforcement and prevention.
About the Office of Traffic Safety
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) designs, implements and coordinates federally funded traffic safety enforcement and education programs to improve driver behaviors and reduce the deaths and serious injuries that occur on Minnesota roads. These efforts form a strong foundation for the statewide Toward Zero Deaths traffic safety program. OTS also administers state funds for the motorcycle safety program, child seats for needy families program and school bus stop arm camera project.
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