The 100 deadliest days of summer

Memorial Day through Labor Day is usually the cause for great celebration, as it is summertime in Minnesota. But it is also a dreaded time, at least on Minnesota roadways.
To police officers, this time period is known as the 100 deadliest days for drivers. Statistically speaking, this is when most serious injury and fatal crashes happen. Going to the cabin, vacation, school’s out and other reasons lead to a high volume of traffic on our roadways.
There are things we can’t control, like the weather and construction projects. However, there is one thing we can control. It’s how we drive.
One state trooper recently said, “This does not need to be our reality if people just make those smart choices.”
Smart choices? 

Life is all about smart choices.
Unfortunately, smart choices don’t always happen.
Sadly, that appears to be the case with a Steele County fatality over the weekend. Early Sunday, a Waseca man drove o the road into a power pole and flipped over.
According to police, he was not wearing a seat belt, and alcohol was believed to have been a factor. Though the investigation isn’t complete, speed likely contributed to this crash as well.
The 54-year-old man, who was only a mile or so away from his residence, never made it home. His wife drove up on the scene just as law enforcement officers were wrapping up their investigation and had to notify her that her husband had been killed. She had been trying to call his cell phone for several hours, but was unable to reach him.
The crash is believed to have happened several hours before it was discovered.
The inability to make smart choices for whatever reason caught up with him and ended his life in a tragic way. 
Last year, there were 392 deaths on Minnesota roads; 120 of those happened during the 100-day stretch over the summer.

Of those fatalities, 24 involved alcohol, 21 were speed-related, 11 had to do with distracted driving, and 21 involved people who weren’t wearing their seat belts.
From now until July 23, Minnesota officers are working extra patrols to crack down on those with a lead foot. The emphasis will switch to impaired driving from mid-August through Labor Day.
To improve safety during the 100 deadliest days on Minnesota roadways, state safety experts urge motorists to drive sober, be attentive, slow down, and always buckle up when in a vehicle.
While we should always exercise great caution with driving, it wouldn’t hurt to be extra, extra careful through the rest of the summer until we’re out of the woods with the 100 deadliest days.
We all want to have fun over the summer, but please take some extra time and go in hot pursuit of making smart choices while behind the wheel.