The Minnesota Department of Public Safety has issued a press release summarizing the traffic deaths that took place in 2021. There were 497 traffic deaths – the most in a year since 2007. This is a significant increase – from 2016-2020, the annual average was 378.

There were 162 driving fatalities related to speeding. The 162 deaths were a 33 percent increase from 2020 and 116 percent increase from 2019.

Of the traffic fatalities, 124 involved alcohol, 109 were not wearing seatbelts, 67 involved motorcyclists, 58 were pedestrians, 24 involved distracted driving and nine were bicyclists.