State Patrol Urges a Safe Labor Day

The Minnesota State Patrol is asking all motorists to “drive intentionally safe” during travels on or near the Labor Day holiday time period.

Sgt. Curt Mowers of the Brainerd office of the State Patrol says, “Looking at the time period from 2004 through 2009, Labor Day weekend travel period is about the fifth deadliest of the six major holidays.”

During that time period in Minnesota, traffic crashes killed at least 26 people and injured at least 1,682. Some of the more serious issues troopers are concerned about include impaired driving, failing to buckle up appropriately, speeding and inattentive driving. Other traffic violations of concern are following too close and passing on the right.