Minnesota Law Enforcement Aiming to Put the Breaks on Speeding During Statewide Summer Campaign

(KNSI) — Nearly 300 law enforcement agencies across the state are joining forces to crack down on speeding, with a high-visibility enforcement and awareness campaign running May 1st through September 7th.

According to the Department of Public Safety, preliminary figures show speed-related crashes claimed 102 lives and seriously injured 388 people in Minnesota last year. About 65% of speed-related deaths involved at least one driver going ten miles an hour or more over the limit.

“For people who think speeding is no big deal, emergency responders will tell you a far different story of what they see at a crash scene,” said Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety Director Mike Hanson. “If you like to speed, think of this enforcement as a life-saving intervention. Now is your chance to stop this dangerous behavior before someone gets hurt.”

The campaign targets what officials call the 100 Deadliest Days, or Memorial Day through Labor Day, when increased travel raises crash risk statewide. Officers will focus on four behaviors behind most crashes which are distracted driving, failure to wear a seat belt, speeding, and impaired driving.

Speeding citations typically cost $100 or more.

The campaign is coordinated by the Office of Traffic Safety using federal funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

___