MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota has reached 300 traffic accident deaths before Labor Day for the first time in more than a decade, a fact safety officials say is due in large part to excessive speed.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) says the state reported its 300th fatality Saturday. There were 240 traffic deaths in the state at this time in 2020, and the Minnesota did not reach the 300 mark until October.
Officials attribute 103 of the deaths, or about 40%, to speeding, compared to 78 at this time last year. Nearly three-fourths of all victims were male, with the majority between 21 and 30 years old.
Alcohol-related deaths stand at 74, which is down from 88 at this time last year and 136 in 2011.
DPS says the First 303 traffic fatalities include:
- 64 motorcyclists compared with 46 reported this time last year.
- 45 pedestrians compared with 26 reported this time last year.
- Four bicyclists compared with six reported this time last year.
- 8 distracted-related deaths (3 percent) compared with 15 this time last year (6 percent).
- 64 unbelted motorist deaths (21 percent) compared with 60 this time last year (24 percent).
"Minnesotans have been making progress over the years in changing their driving behaviors for the better. But recently, motorists are falling into bad habits, ignoring the law, and it’s costing us lives," said Office of Traffic Safety director Mike Hanson. "This many preventable deaths on Minnesota roads before Labor Day is completely unacceptable. It’s not a homework assignment, you don’t get a do-over. We all need to drive smart to keep our family, friends and neighbors alive.”
One tool DPS will use to slow down drivers and hopefully, deaths, is the use of stepped-up DWI and speeding patrols through Sept. 6.