SPEED/AGGRESSIVE DRIVING
The Dangers of Illegal and Unsafe Speeding
Each year, illegal or unsafe speed is a leading contributing factor in Minnesota fatal crashes.
On average, speed contributes to:
- 75 people were killed in speed-related crashes in 2019.
- Summer months provide beautiful weather in Minnesota but the dry roads also allow for drivers to get complacent with speeding. During the 100 deadliest days (Memorial Day – Labor Day) in 2019, speed played a role in 31 fatalities.
- During the 100 deadliest days in the past five years (2015-2019), numbers show that 125 people lost their lives in speed-related crashes.
- In 2019, speed was a contributing factor in 26 percent of single-vehicle crashes.
Drive Minnesota Nice
- Long-term trends are discouraging. When comparing the five year periods of 2010 – 2014 to 2015 – 2019:
- There has been a 7 percent increase in speed-related fatalities.
- In 2010-2014, 22 percent of all serious injuries were speed-related. In 2015-2019, it was 27 percent.
- Weaving in and out of traffic causes other drivers to slam on the brakes or possibly weave to avoid a cash.
- Aggressive driving, speeding and weaving through traffic give drivers less room for error.
Higher Speeds, Bigger Problems
- Greater potential for loss of vehicle control.
- Increased stopping distance.
- Less time for driver response for crash avoidance.
- Increased crash severity leading to more severe injuries and death.
If Confronted with an Aggressive Driver:
- Get out of their way; disengage.
- Stay calm — reaching your destination safely is your goal.
- Do not challenge them.
- Avoid eye contact.
- Ignore gestures and don’t return them.
- Report aggressive driving (vehicle description, license number, location).
Increased stopping distance:
- At 40 mph, braking distance is 79 feet, with total stopping distance with reaction time 118 feet
- At 60 mph, braking distance is 180 feet, with total stopping distance with reaction time 240 feet
- At 80 mph, braking distance is 315 feet, with total stopping distance with reaction time 394 feet
- At 100 mph, braking distance is 499 feet, with total stopping distance with reaction time 597 feet.
Resources
• DPS Speed Commercial
• DPS Speed PSA
Speed played a role in each of these crashes
Speak Up: Tell the driver to slow down
- Tell the driver to obey the speed limit to protect their life and yours.
- Most speeders think they’re above-average drivers but they’re 60 percent more likely to be in a crash than the average driver (OTS High Risk Driver Study 2014).
- Tell the driver to obey the speed limit to save money.
- For every 5 mph over 50 mph, it’s like paying an additional 19-cents per gallon.
- Traveling at 55 mph versus 45 mph for a 10-mile trip will only save a driver a little more than two minutes travel time.
- Traveling at 55 mph versus 45 mph for a 10-mile trip will only save a driver a little more than two minutes travel time.
You are an aggressive driver if you:
- Ignore traffic signals
- Speed and tailgate
- Weave in and out of traffic
- Make improper lane changes frequently and abruptly
- Pass on the shoulder
- Make hand and facial gestures
- Scream, honk and flash lights.
If confronted by an aggressive driver, you should:
- Get out of their way.
- Stay calm — reaching your destination safely is your goal.
- Do not challenge them.
- Avoid eye contact.
- Ignore gestures and don’t return them.
- Report aggressive driving (vehicle description, license number, location).
- Always buckle up to maintain proper seating position in case of abrupt driving maneuvers.
Report Aggressive Drivers:
- Find a safe place to call 911
- Be prepared to provide location, vehicle description and license plate.
Tailgating
Motorists should keep at least a three-second following distance, as it takes more than the length of a football field to stop when traveling at 60 miles per hour.