Slow down, it could save your life

To remind motorists to drive safely, law enforcement partners are participating in a statewide extra speed enforcement and awareness campaign through the end of July. 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 coordinates the campaign with funding provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The campaign includes extra patrols and advertising in support of the Toward Zero Deaths traffic safety program.
“The 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day have a deadly reputation on Minnesota roads,” said OTS Director Mike Hanson.
“During the first 25 days of the current 100 days, preliminary figures show 46 people have lost their lives in crashes. That’s the highest in that timespan in the last 10 years. Minnesotans can help change this deadly trajectory with smart choices such as slowing down.”
While getting a ticket may be a primary concern when speeding, drivers should worry about far more dangerous consequences:
•In 2022, 129 motorists died in speed-related crashes (preliminary).
•During the 100 deadliest days in the past five years (2018-2022), preliminary numbers show that 231 people lost their lives in speed-related crashes.
•Speed contributed to an average of 85 deaths per year from 2013-2017, but an average of 122 deaths per year from 2018-2022.
Through June 25 this year, preliminary numbers show speed-related deaths are lower so far than the past two years, but even one death is one too many.
Reducing speed reduces chances of a crashes. It gives drivers more vehicle control. It allows drivers to respond more quickly to road situations. It decreases the severity of the impact during a crash.
Motorists 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.