In recent years, Minnesota police have announced that they will have an increased presence on the roads between Memorial Day and Labor Day, a period commonly referred to as the “100 Deadliest Days” on the road. We also try to make it known that police will have a heavier presence on the road during this time period to ensure motorists get the message to slow down so that they don’t earn citations and arrests.
Despite our best efforts to get the word out, many of the totals from this year’s 100 Deadliest Days crackdown increased compared to the 2025 numbers. We take a closer look at the data from this summer’s 100 deadliest days crackdown in today’s blog.
Recapping 100 Deadliest Days Crackdown 2026
According to the Minnesota Department of Traffic Safety Office of Traffic Safety, a total of 51,615 speeding citations were handed out to Minnesota drivers during this year’s campaign, which is a significant increase from 2025 when law enforcement wrote 46,624 speeding tickets during the same period. Let’s take a closer look at other statistics from the crackdown and compare them to last year’s numbers.
- Police made 1,431 DWI arrests during the 2026 campaign, up from 1,357 in 2025.
- There were 154 fatal automobile accidents in 2026, up from 114 in 2025. This marks the highest total since the 2023 campaign when 163 traffic fatalities were recorded.
- Police issued 159 “Move Over” citations, down from 178 in 2025.
- Police issued 68 citations for drivers traveling over 100 miles per hour, with the fastest being logged at 146 mph, higher than last year’s top speed of 145 mph.
“By stopping dangerous driving before a crash happens, officers help save lives,” said Mike Hanson, director of OTS. “As the data shows us, we still have a lot of work to do to prevent these needless tragedies on our roads. Every driver has a role. Drive responsibly, buckle up, put the phone down, slow down and never drive impaired. If you see someone driving recklessly, speak up. You could help save a life.”
Despite our best efforts to warn drivers, it appears that many still didn’t get the message. The weather will soon turn worse in Minnesota (at least in terms of driving – it will be great for pond hockey), and if drivers continue to put the pedal to the metal or get behind the wheel after drinking or smoking marijuana, we fear that more lives will be senselessly lost across the state. Buckle up, put the distractions down, mind your speed and drive sober in the last three months of the year so that we can end 2026 on a high note. Many traffic issues are trending in the wrong direction, but we can improve those numbers by making smarter choices on the road.
If you have an impending court date coming up because you were cited or arrested during the 100 Deadliest Days campaign, or if you need help for a different criminal matter, connect with Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm. Let us connect with you, conduct a free case review and help you determine the next best steps forward for your case. Give us a call today at (952) 224-2277.
