
The Dangers of Illegal and Unsafe Speeding
Each year, illegal or unsafe speed is a leading contributing factor in Minnesota fatal crashes.
On average, speed contributes to:
- 75 people were killed in speed-related crashes in 2019.
- Summer months provide beautiful weather in Minnesota but the dry roads also allow for drivers to get complacent with speeding. During the 100 deadliest days (Memorial Day – Labor Day) in 2019, speed played a role in 31 fatalities.
- During the 100 deadliest days in the past five years (2015-2019), numbers show that 125 people lost their lives in speed-related crashes.
- In 2019, speed was a contributing factor in 26 percent of single-vehicle crashes.
Drive Minnesota Nice
- Long-term trends are discouraging. When comparing the five year periods of 2010 – 2014 to 2015 – 2019:
- There has been a 7 percent increase in speed-related fatalities.
- In 2010-2014, 22 percent of all serious injuries were speed-related. In 2015-2019, it was 27 percent.
- Weaving in and out of traffic causes other drivers to slam on the brakes or possibly weave to avoid a cash.
- Aggressive driving, speeding and weaving through traffic give drivers less room for error.
Higher Speeds, Bigger Problems
- Greater potential for loss of vehicle control.
- Increased stopping distance.
- Less time for driver response for crash avoidance.
- Increased crash severity leading to more severe injuries and death.
If Confronted with an Aggressive Driver:
- Get out of their way; disengage.
- Stay calm — reaching your destination safely is your goal.
- Do not challenge them.
- Avoid eye contact.
- Ignore gestures and don’t return them.
- Report aggressive driving (vehicle description, license number, location).
Increased stopping distance:
- At 40 mph, braking distance is 79 feet, with total stopping distance with reaction time 118 feet
- At 60 mph, braking distance is 180 feet, with total stopping distance with reaction time 240 feet
- At 80 mph, braking distance is 315 feet, with total stopping distance with reaction time 394 feet
- At 100 mph, braking distance is 499 feet, with total stopping distance with reaction time 597 feet.
Resources
• DPS Speed Commercial
• DPS Speed PSA
Speed played a role in each of these crashes



Speak Up: Tell the driver to slow down
- Tell the driver to obey the speed limit to protect their life and yours.
- Most speeders think they’re above-average drivers but they’re 60 percent more likely to be in a crash than the average driver (OTS High Risk Driver Study 2014).
- Tell the driver to obey the speed limit to save money.
- For every 5 mph over 50 mph, it’s like paying an additional 19-cents per gallon.
- Traveling at 55 mph versus 45 mph for a 10-mile trip will only save a driver a little more than two minutes travel time.
You are an aggressive driver if you:
Ignore traffic signals
Speed and tailgate
Weave in and out of traffic
Make improper lane changes frequently and abruptly
Pass on the shoulder
Make hand and facial gestures
Scream, honk and flash lights.
If confronted by an aggressive driver, you should:
Stay calm — reaching your destination safely is your goal.
Do not challenge them.
Avoid eye contact.
Ignore gestures and don’t return them.
Report aggressive driving (vehicle description, license number, location).
Always buckle up to maintain proper seating position in case of abrupt driving maneuvers.
Report Aggressive Drivers:
Find a safe place to call 911
Be prepared to provide location, vehicle description and license plate.
Tailgating
Motorists should keep at least a three-second following distance, as it takes more than the length of a football field to stop when traveling at 60 miles per hour.