OTS challenges Minnesotans to make summer the 100 safest days
June 5, 2023
Summer weather is here! The sun is peeking out from behind the clouds, swimming pools are opening up and Minnesotans are getting into their cars for some well-deserved vacations.
With summertime fun and travel kicking off, it's important to drive smart so everyone on Minnesota's roads gets home safely.
The 100 days from Memorial Day through Labor Day have a dangerous reputation. Preliminary numbers show that stretch accounted for 169 of the 444 traffic fatalities last year. That's 38 percent of all the traffic deaths in 2022.
“It's time to take accountability for our own driving behaviors so that we can change this reputation from the 100 deadliest days to the 100 safest days," Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) enforcement coordinator Shannon Grabow said.
Throughout the next 100 days, OTS will be coordinating extra enforcement and awareness campaigns to help Minnesotans get home safely.
It's never guaranteed, but by buckling your seat belt, putting the phone down, driving safe and sober, and obeying the speed limit, you can increase the chances that the open road will lead to summer fun instead of tragedy.
“Driving smart this summer can help prevent heartache and tragedy," Grabow said. “Together, we can all get home safely."
OTS is working alongside the Minnesota State Patrol. Troopers will be conducting extra street racing enforcement, Highway Enforcement for Aggressive Traffic (HEAT) patrols and Project 20(23), which involves high-visibility patrols around the state, to stop dangerous driving behaviors before someone gets hurt.
We want you to have a great summer. If alcohol, THC edibles or legalized cannabis are part of your activities, make sure you're not driving afterward. Always plan a safe and sober ride.
Here are some other ways to drive smart:
- Speak up: Offer to be a designated driver or be available to pick up a loved one anytime, anywhere. If you see an impaired person about to get behind the wheel, get them a safe ride home.
- If you plan to drive, refrain from drugs, whether legally or illegally obtained.
- Some medications are fine on their own but can impair you when mixed with other medications or alcohol. Learn about the interactions and talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
- Buckle up: It's the best defense against an impaired driver.
- Report impaired driving: Call 911 when witnessing impaired driving behavior. Be prepared to provide location, license plate number and observed dangerous behavior.
Join us in making these 100 days the safest days on Minnesota's roads. Learn more at
DriveSmartMN.org.
