The Fourth of July weekend kicks off a month of fun and travel for many families. That means a lot of extra vehicles hitting the road. While many Minnesotans are driving smart, many are still driving too fast. Speed was the largest contributing factor in fatal traffic crashes during the 100 deadliest days last summer, Memorial Day to Labor Day.
To help stop speed related deaths and educate motorists, officer, deputies and troopers will be participating in a statewide extra enforcement and awareness campaign from July 1st-31st. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety coordinates the campaign and provides overtime funding for law enforcement officers to conduct increased patrols.
Through June 19th, preliminary numbers show speed related deaths are 45 percent less than at this time last year, but 13 percent more than in 2020 and 57 percent more than in 2019.
The 488 traffic fatalities in 2021 are the most since 2007 when there were 510, with speed contributing to 34 percent of those fatalities.