Minnesota motorists are driving fast, not wearing their seat belts and getting behind the wheel while drunk or distracted.
And more of them are dying on the state's roads — a trend that public safety officials say they fear will continue as traffic volumes continue to rise, including over the Independence Day weekend.
Just halfway through the year, Minnesota has recorded 202 traffic fatalities, the earliest the state has reached the grim tally in more than a decade, according to data from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS).
As of Wednesday, 54 more people had died on the roads this year than in the first six months of 2020, the DPS said. Last year, the state didn't see its 200th traffic fatality until July 30, the department said.
"It's crazy and scary," said Lisa Kons, who delivers messages about safe driving as Traffic Safety Program Manager for the Minnesota Safety Council. "It keeps me up at night."
Speeding is driving the big increase in traffic deaths, accounting for 40% of fatalities. The 80 speeding deaths, up from 49 at this time last year, are the most in the first six months of a year since 2009, the DPS said.
The State Patrol is trying to clamp down on lead-foot driving. As of June 10, troopers had cited 38,819 motorists for speeding, including 550 tickets written for drivers traveling 100 mph or faster. Law enforcement is conducting a speed enforcement campaign during July to encourage motorists to lay off the gas.
"Stop speeding and help stop the dangerous driving behaviors that are leading to lifelong heartache for so many," said Col. Matt Langer, chief of the Minnesota State Patrol.