Clay County, MN – Seventy-eight people. That’s more than an entire regular season NFL roster, more people than can fill up a passenger bus, and roughly the size of three elementary school classes.
Losing these people to tragedy would make headlines. In reality, speed played a role in crashes that killed that many people on Minnesota roads in 2015.
To keep motorists safe this summer, Clay County Law Enforcement Agencies are conducting increased patrols, July 8 – 22, as part of a statewide extra speed enforcement effort. The enforcement and education effort is coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety.
Speed Kills
Speed is a leading factor in crashes, contributing to one out of every five fatalities on Minnesota roads. The summer months are especially troublesome with an average of 23 speed-related deaths a year during the 100 deadliest days (Memorial Day – Labor Day) on Minnesota roads.
100 Deadliest Days Speed-Related Fatalities
|
2015
|
2014
|
2013
|
2012
|
2011
|
Total
|
|
17
|
25
|
20
|
26
|
29
|
117
|
While there is cause for concern, drivers seem to be getting the message that speed kills. Speed-related fatal crashes have decreased by 48 percent in the last 10 years.
Speed Fatalities: 2015 – 2006
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2015
|
2014
|
2013
|
2012
|
2011
|
2010
|
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
|
78
|
94
|
76
|
74
|
85
|
86
|
85
|
125
|
115
|
151
|
Consequences of Speeding
- Greater potential for loss of vehicle control.
- Increased stopping distance.
- Less time for driver response for crash avoidance.
- Increased crash severity leading to more severe injuries and death.
Three Seconds Is the Safe Following Distance
- 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.
Speeding Costs
- The most common traffic-law violation is speeding, outnumbering all other traffic violations combined. (AAA)
- In Clay County, an average speeding citation for 10 mph over the limit is $125. Motorists stopped at 20 mph over the speed limit face double the fine, and those ticketed traveling more than 100 mph can lose their license for six months.
- For every 5 mph above 50 mph, it’s like paying an additional 19 cents per gallon. (Department of Energy)
Speeding to get Nowhere Fast
Speeding does not help you get to your destination significantly faster. According to AAA, travel time for a 30-mile trip:
- 55 miles per hour = 32.7 minutes.
- 65 miles an hour = 27.7 minutes (5 minutes saved).
- 75 miles per hour = 24 minutes (8 minutes saved).
Extra speed enforcement and education efforts are part of the Toward Zero Deaths traffic safety program. A primary vision of the TZD program is to create a safe driving culture in Minnesota in which motorists support a goal of zero road fatalities by practicing and promoting safe and smart driving behavior. TZD focuses on the application of four strategic areas to reduce crashes – education, enforcement, engineering, and emergency medical and trauma response.
Lt. Deric Swenson, 218-299-5202
