Safety message for drivers this Memorial Day weekend

VALLEY SPRINGS, SD (KELO) – Safety is an important force for law enforcement as Memorial Day weekend begins today. State troopers from across the region met and demonstrated simulated crashes as they prepared for the busy season.

State troopers from South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa came together to spread the message of driver safety as the holiday weekend began.

“It’s important to wear your seat belt at all times, but we know that with Memorial Day weekend starting, it’s kind of the start of summer school, it’s getting out and traveling . The number of travelers on our interstates and interstates is increasing,” said South Dakota Highway Patrol Lt. Isaac Kurtz.

Between now and September, state officials expect an increase in accidents.

“We’re calling this the start of our Deadliest 100 Days on the Roads, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, which marks the 100 deadliest days on the roads in the state of Minnesota. A lot of that comes from the fact that a lot of people are traveling, trying to enjoy summer vacation, time with family and other things,” said Minnesota State Patrol Capt. Casey Meagher.

Over the 2023 Memorial Day weekend, more than 254 traffic crashes, two deaths and 77 injuries, were reported on South Dakota highways.

“We prefer to have less than that. But our goal remains the same every year: to reduce the number of accidents, especially fatal accidents, and to encourage drivers to buckle up at all times,” Kurtz said.

Sarah McGeary-DeHaan of the Minnesota Department of Transportation demonstrated a low-impact crash that shows what it feels like to crash at speeds of 5 to 10 mph.

“Most of them are not traveling at 5 to 10 miles per hour. So we really want to show them, you know, the jolt of a 5 to 10 mile per hour crash while they’re wearing a seat belt,” McGeary-DeHaan said.

Excessive speed, failure to wear seat belts and distracted driving are the most common causes of accidents observed in the three states.

“The tragedies we see don’t stop at state lines, whether it’s South Dakota or Iowa or Minnesota,” Meagher says.

A consistent safety message, no matter where you live.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol says it will also continue its sobriety checks throughout the summer.