2021 is shaping up to be one of the deadliest years on Minnesota roadways.
The Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) reported Wednesday that the state reached 446 traffic deaths, a 24 percent increase from the same time a year before and a 38 percent increase from 2019.
In fact, the state could come close to matching the most traffic deaths since 2007, where 510 people were killed.
"Horrific, tragic, sad, and frustrating," said Office of Traffic Safety director Mike Hanson. "What's happening on Minnesota roadways is just beyond compare."
According to OTS, excessive speed has led to at least 143 traffic deaths this year. That number is up 30 percent from 2020 and 117 percent in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold of Minnesota.
"Just plain pushing the limit of beyond limit is the leading cause in increase in fatalities and serious injuries that we are seeing," Hanson said. "It's like COVID-19 came along with all of it's challenges, but he dragged his evil twin brother along with him, which is Mr. Selfish. That's what these speeding decisions are out there."
Whether it's frustration from the past year and a half, or the disruption caused by the pandemic, Hanson adds that the results are costing innocent people to lose their lives.
"It's almost like the lack of respect for the rule of law and a selfishness that is now making our roads private playgrounds, which they were never intended to be. That's what is leading to this increase in aggressive driving, speeds, and extreme speeds. That's driving our fatality numbers right off of the cliff."
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OTS data shows Minnesota drivers are also opting to not wear seatbelts in many of the fatal accidents. At least 95 people have been killed this year because they were not buckled-up, a number that's nine percent higher compared to 2020 and 53 percent higher compared to 2019.
"Everyone of the safety features built into the modern automobile, and they're engineered wonderfully to protect the human occupants, but they all depend on one critical cornerstone in that safety system," Hanson said. "That's critical cornerstone is the seatbelt."
Hanson says that he believes a majority of Minnesotans are still good, safe drivers and that a small subset of people are to blame for creating dangerous and deadly situations.
"The first way to protect yourself is by making sure you're buckled-up," he said. "Paying full attention behind the wheel is also critically important to make sure you and the occupants inside the vehicle stay safe. If you're going to avoid something you have to see it, perceive it, and react to it."
With the holiday season approaching, law enforcement across the state are ramping up extra DWI patrols with many extra-patrols set to begin the night before Thanksgiving, which has been dubbed "Blackout Wednesday" or "Drinksgiving."
"There are people who have slipped back into bad habits behind the wheel," Hanson said. "We want to continue to raise this as an issue for Minnesotans and we are going to back that up with extra enforcement through the end of the year."