'7 Days of Speed' stops 317 drivers in Douglas County
The effort was part of a statewide “7 Days of Speed” enforcement campaign administrated by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety. Officers from the four departments, stopped 317 motorists, and 216 of those drivers were exceeding the speed limit, 57 motorists were cited for speed and 159 motorists were issued speed warnings.
In July, the Alexandria and Osakis Police Departments, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota State Patrol, took to the roads to conduct enhanced speed patrols targeting lead-foot drivers in Douglas County.
The effort was part of a statewide “7 Days of Speed” enforcement campaign administrated by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety.
Officers from the four departments, stopped 317 motorists, and 216 of those drivers were exceeding the speed limit, 57 motorists were cited for speed and 159 motorists were issued speed warnings.
Other violations addressed by officers were related to driving under the influence, seatbelts, child restraints, inattentive driving, driver’s license, miscellaneous equipment violations and various moving violations.
Speeding is the most commonly reported factor in fatal crashes. Each year in Minnesota, speed contributes to more than 100 traffic deaths and 300 life-altering, serious injuries, according to the State Patrol.
In the three-year period 2008-2010 in Minnesota, speed contributed to five traffic deaths in Douglas County and 24 severe injuries.
Statewide, there were 296 fatalities – resulting in an economic impact of more than $362 million.
These four law enforcement agencies are a part of the Douglas County Safe Communities Coalition, which worked together earlier this year targeting distracted and inattentive drivers. Educational messaging complimented the enhanced enforcement of both the distracted driving and speed campaigns.
Most recently, this included the posting of the coalition’s mobile speed trailer that was seen by many motorists in various locations throughout Douglas County in July.
About the effort
The Safe Communities Coalition and enhanced enforcement campaigns are a component of the state’s Toward Zero Death program (TZD). A primary vision of the TZD program is to create a safe driving culture in Minnesota in which motorists support a goal of zero road fatalities by practicing and promoting safe and smart driving behavior. TZD focuses on the application of four strategic areas to reduce crashes — education, enforcement, engineering and emergency trauma response.
Tags: douglas county, news, speed, targeting
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