The Dangers of Illegal and Unsafe Speeding

• 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
 

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.

• Get out of their way.

• 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.

• 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.