Albert Lea and Freeborn County motorists will face enhanced speed enforcement patrols throughout July as part of a statewide campaign administrated by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety. From 2007-09, speed was a contributing factor in nine fatalities in Freeborn County and 325 traffic deaths statewide.

Speed is the most commonly reported contributing factor in fatal crashes. According to Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS), speed contributes to more than 100 traffic deaths and 300 life-altering, serious injuries each year. Last year the Albert Lea Police Department issued 131 speed citations and the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office issued 283. In Freeborn County, a typical 10 mph over the limit speeding ticket can cost $120.

“Speeding motorists are a serious threat to everyone on the road,” said Albert Lea Police Lt. J.D. Carlson. “The posted speed is the speed limit. When speed increases, so does the chance for a violent crash.”

Carlson cites the dangers of speeding, including greater potential for loss of vehicle control, increased stopping distance, less time available for driver response for crash avoidance, and increased crash severity leading to more numerous and severe injuries.

Costs of speeding violations vary by county but typically ramp up to at least $120 for traveling 10 mph over the limit. Motorists stopped at 20 mph over the speed limit face double the fine, and those ticketed traveling more than 100 mph can lose their license for six months.

More than twice as many speed-related fatal crashes occur on rural roads than major urban roads.

Carlson said with warm weather comes an increase in speeding behavior, an important reminder to motorists in the heart of the summer driving season — the deadliest time on Minnesota roads. He also notes that increased speed does not save much travel time, but rather, “your chances of being involved in a crash greatly increase as speed increases.”

Traveling at 55 mph versus 45 mph for a 10-mile journey will only save about two and one-half minutes of travel time.

The Safe & Sober effort is coordinated by the Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety. The campaign is a component of the state’s Toward Zero Death program. TZD is a multi-agency approach to address traffic issues regionally through enforcement, education, engineering and emergency trauma care and response.