ST PAUL, Minn. — Driving fast may actually slow you down this week, especially if you're among the motorists law enforcement pulls over during a crackdown on speeders across Minnesota.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) on Wednesday announced a high visibility saturation on drivers who speed between May 12 and 19. The Minnesota State Patrol, county sheriff's deputies and local police departments will patrol on specific days in specifically targeted regions, in an attempt to stop fast and reckless drivers.
“Saving dozens more from dying this year is possible if we all just slow down,” Col. Matt Langer, Chief of the Minnesota State Patrol, said in a press release. “We can all control how fast we are going, and we can all take responsibility when it comes to driving smart. By going the speed limit, you can reduce your risk of crashing and get home to your family at the end of the day.”
DPS says 56 people have died in speed-related incidents on Minnesota roads so far in 2021, compared with 26 at the same time last year. Safety officials say those deaths are the main contributor to an overall traffic fatality rate that is significantly ahead of both last year's numbers and historical averages.
Here are some recent traffic deaths DPS says reflect the current trends.
- A 35-year-old motorcyclist not wearing a helmet who was driving 79 mph in a 55 mph zone. He ran off the road in McLeod County. Drug use is suspected.
- A 29-year-old driver going 80 mph in a 30 mph zone on a Cass County road. He ran off the road, hit an embankment and overturned multiple times. Alcohol and drugs are suspected.
- A 52-year-old motorcyclist not wearing a helmet was driving 60 mph in a 40 mph zone on a Stearns County road. He ran off the road at a curve and hit mailboxes and a fence.
- A 23-year-old motorcyclist, traveling around 70 mph in a 45 mph zone in Red Wing hit a curb, causing the bike to break up, ejecting him.
Preliminary figures show 129 people have died in traffic crashes since Jan. 1, compared to 94 at this time in 2020. The last time Minnesota reached 129 fatalities by May 12 was in 2008, when 133 people died on state roads up to that date.
If staying alive isn't reason enough, DPS reminded drivers how a citation impacts them financially, with fines and an increase in insurance rates. The cost of a speeding ticket typically runs more than $110 with court fees for traveling 10 mph over the limit. Fines double for those speeding 20 mph over the limit, and drivers can lose their license for six months for going 100 mph or more.
