Eight people died on Minnesota roads over the Memorial Day weekend, which saw a 21% increase in DWI arrests over last year.
Of the deaths over the weekend, two were alcohol-related crashes, four speed-related and two people were not buckled in, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) said Tuesday.
Over the weekend, law enforcement across the state made 354 DWI arrests, compared with 292 in 2020.
The increase in traffic fatalities continues an upward trend. The DPS reported 159 so far this year compared with 111 the same time last year, with eight of those occurring over the Memorial Day weekend. Many were speed-related and from drivers and passengers not wearing seat belts. Thirty-five were alcohol-related fatalities, down 10 from the same time last year.
The State Patrol cited 29,192 motorist for speeding this year with nearly 400 tickets for speeds over 100 mph.
"We are extremely frustrated by the number of drivers who are treating the roadway like the raceway and performing other dangerous behaviors behind the wheel," State Patrol Lt. Gordon Shank said in a statement. "If we don't act now, we'll see traffic fatalities totaling numbers we haven't seen in several years."
Memorial Day through Labor Day are the most traveled days on the roads in Minnesota, according to the DPS. Last year with the pandemic raging, many turned to road trips instead of flying.
Preliminary data show 40% of all traffic deaths last year were between the two holidays. The 158 deaths reported between the holidays last year were the most recorded since at least 2015.
