Traffic & Transit
Traffic Deaths Up In Minneapolis Despite Crashes Down In 2020
Reckless driving during the coronavirus pandemic shutdowns played a role in the spike in fatal traffic crashes, according to officials.
MINNEAPOLIS — Fatal traffic crashes were up by 30 percent in 2020 in Minneapolis, despite the overall number of traffic crashes being down overall, according to a study from the city released Wednesday.
Reductions in travel and increased reckless driving during the coronavirus pandemic shutdowns played a role in the spike in fatal traffic crashes, according to officials.
By the numbers
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- Seventeen people died in traffic crashes on Minneapolis roads, and 122 suffered severe injuries in a crash
- Speeding was a factor in 75 percent of the city's deadly traffic crashes
- Crashes were down 39 percent in 2020 overall compared to the average, but there were more deadly crashes than any year since 2013
Safety measures
In 2020, both Minneapolis and Saint Paul lowered speed limits to 20 mph for local residential streets and 25 mph for most arterial streets.
Find out what's happening in Southwest Minneapolisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Minneapolis officials are expanding the installation of "quick-build" safety improvements, such as flexible posts and paint. Twenty-nine of such improvements were installed at intersections in 2020
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