Crime & Safety

Fourth of July: Deadliest Day of the Year on the Road

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety is stressing that motorists buckle up, drive at safe speeds and plan ahead for a sober ride during the Fourth of July travel period.

The is state’s deadliest day of the year on the road, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety.

In the last three years, Independence Day racked up 15 traffic deaths, topping May 22 (13), May 23 (11) and July 10 (11) for the deadliest 24-hour period.

In Washingotn County (2009-2011):

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  • There were 99 serious injury crashes, 24 of which were alcohol related. The cost, according to the DPS, of alcohol-related serious injuries was $1.634 million.
  • There were 28 traffic deaths, six of which were alcohol-related. The cost of alcohol-related deaths, according to the DPS, was $7.88 million.
  • In 2011, Washington County law enforcement responded to 1,010 DWI incidents and six traffic deaths. One of those six deaths was alcohol-related, costing taxpayers $1.41 million.

DPS officials are stressing that motorists buckle up, drive at safe speeds, pay attention and plan ahead for a sober ride.

Midway through the year, there have been 147 traffic deaths, compared to 136 at this time in 2011.

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Fourth of July travel periods (78-hour period surrounding the holiday), 2009–2011:

  • 21 deaths of which 14 were a result of an alcohol-impaired crash.

  • 1,536 DWI arrests.

  • Consequences of a DWI include thousands in costs, increased insurance rates, loss of license and possible jail time.

    Repeat DWI offenders, as well as first-time offenders arrested at 0.16 and above alcohol-concentration level must use ignition interlock in order to regain legal driving privileges, or face at least one year without a driver’s license.

    Offenders with three or more offenses are required to use interlock for three to six years, or they will never regain driving privileges.

    Ignition interlock requires the driver to provide a breath sample below 0.02 alcohol-concentration in order for the vehicle to start.

    Office of Traffic Safety

  • OTS recognized the state’s DWI Enforcer All-Stars at Target Field June 25. The leading DWI enforcer is Minnesota State Patrol Trooper Mark Hibbard with 241 DWI arrests in 2011.

  • July 1 marked one year of the state’s ignition interlock DWI sanction. Nearly 3,000 DWI offenders are using interlock to benefit road safety and ensure legal, sober driving.

  • A May 21–June 3 statewide seat belt enforcement campaign resulted in 12,639 seat belt citations.

  • Media are encouraged to localize traffic safety news by referencing county-specific crash facts.


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