State Patrol has issued 100+ citations for drivers going 100 mph or more

Rush hour has been moving more quickly during the coronavirus pandemic. Although there are fewer cars on the road, the number of people speeding is up significantly, according to authorities.

The empty roads are enticing some people to go fast while others don’t realize they’ve sped up, according to Minnesota State Patrol. Some drivers are also rushing to get to their destinations.

“I can tell you citations for over 100 miles per hour are at 143 for the month of April,” said Lt. Gordon Shank with Minnesota State Patrol. “Compare that to 2019, there were 58. We’re definitely seeing an increase in speeds they’re driving at.”

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According to citation data, drivers have reached speeds of over 115 mph several times in the last two weeks. One driver hit 125 mph in a 55 mph zone, heading northbound on Interstate 35W at Highway 62 in Minneapolis on April 24.

On April 29, a driver reached 130 mph in a 70 mph zone while driving in St. Cloud.

Shank said while drivers can face penalties as severe as losing their license temporarily, there are more serious consequences to consider.

“At the end of the day it gives the driver less time to react whenever they need to move out of the way, whether that’s debris or another vehicle or if it’s safely merging into another lane or a highway,” he said.

Between March 16 and April 21, 35 Minnesotans died in crashes, according to the Department of Public Safety. Twenty-four people were killed in crashes during the same timeframe in 2019.

“The decisions you make behind the wheel have life-changing effects for a lot of people,” said Shank. “It could be someone in your car, it could be another driver that’s on the roadway where they get involved in a crash because of the way someone else is driving. These have lasting impacts on people.”

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State Patrol urges drivers to hold each other accountable. If you see someone driving recklessly, call 911 hands-free or pull off at the next exit.

“Get it to us, report it to us, so we can get that vehicle stopped,” said Shank.

He added that with the fishing opener this weekend, they will be stepping up enforcement on interstates and highways.