Minnesota reaches 200 road fatalities in 2016
File photo.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) - There have been 200 road fatalities in Minnesota so far this year, according to the Department of Public Safety.
Preliminary numbers show the state reached the 200 mark on July 23. This is about on pace with last year, as Minnesota had 201 road fatalities by July 20, 2015.
Included in the 200 traffic fatalities are 27 motorcyclists, 26 pedestrians and four bicyclists. This time last year there were 37 motorcyclist deaths, 16 pedestrian deaths, and four bicyclist deaths.
“We are in the middle of the 100 deadliest days on Minnesota roads,” said Donna Berger, Office of Traffic Safety director. “With seven weeks left until Labor Day, we need to double our efforts and speak up when we see a dangerous driver. Each one of us needs to commit to safe driving habits, and we need every community in our state to stand together and say ‘enough is enough’ when it comes to deaths on our roads.”
In 2015, there was a total of 411 road fatalities, which was a 17 percent decrease from ten years ago. Distracted driving, however, increased 21 percent from 2014 to 2015.