What would they do without you if you were killed in a car accident? Would you be willing to make changes to spare them—your spouse, children, parents, siblings, all your friends and relatives—from that awful reality? That’s a question you’re asked to contemplate in a new campaign with the message “Do It For ME.”
In partnership with State Farm and the Minnesota Network of Employers for Traffic Safety, (MN NETS) the campaign aims to reduce distracted driving, speeding and other careless but dangerous—even deadly—habits behind the wheel.
“We want to make an impact on drivers’ thought processes, to make them think, who’s counting on me to make good choices and come home?” said Lisa Kons, traffic safety programs manager for the Minnesota Safety Council and coordinator, Minnesota NETS. “We’re asking, who would you change your behavior for?”
The question is meant to provoke. Statistics show that poor choices behind the wheel take a tragic toll. As of August 6th, 219 people have already died in traffic-related deaths on Minnesota roadways this year.
“When the pandemic started, traffic safety professionals thought serious injuries and deaths in traffic accidents would go down; fewer miles were being driven. We were 100% wrong,” Kons admitted.
Instead, traffic accidents and fatalities made a significant jump, with excessive speed blamed for many crashes.
During the month of July, law enforcement from 291 Minnesota agencies across the state joined together to target speeding drivers. During the month of extra enforcement, 20,657 Minnesota drivers were cited; 47 agencies reported drivers driving at 100 mph or more. Eden Prairie police clocked (and ticketed) one lead-foot who hit 152 mph.
“Speeding is out-of-control in Minnesota and nationwide; it’s become socially acceptable to speed. But the faster you go, the harder you crash,” she added. “We want people to connect the dots and realize that if their driving behavior hurts or kills them, their family will be devastated.”
Other egregious offenses reported in the July crackdown include a driver with just an instructional permit cited by the Chisago County Sherriff’s office for going 97 mph; a Wadena father and son who were racing each other and traveling at 72 mph in a 45 mph zone and a driver pulled over by Crystal Police cited for both speeding and DWI. Clocked at 112 mph the driver later had a confirmed blood alcohol content of .25.
The Do It For ME campaign aims to change the statistical trajectory, reminding drivers of the risk they take when they go too fast or give in to the temptation to text or check messages while behind the wheel.
“Everyone thinks that they are the safe speeder, they are the driver who knows how to use their phone safely,” Kons said. “But we all need to keep our eyes on the road, our hands on the wheel, and our brain on driving.”
If you won’t do it for your loved ones, you might consider doing it for your wallet. Fines for speeding, careless driving and other behind-the-wheel offenses are steep and the impact of the citation can be long lasting.
While the expense of a speeding ticket varies by county, driving 10 miles per hour over the speed limit will typically cost the offender more than $110 with court fees. At 20 mph over the limit, that fine can double; drivers can lose their driver’s license for six months for going 100 mph or more.
In addition, violations can push up the cost of auto insurance and the higher expense for premiums sometimes lasts for years.
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