Editorial: Drive safely

Minnesotans had a safe Fourth of July — on state roadways, anyway. Preliminary reports indicate no fatal crashes, according to the Department of Public Safety.

That’s welcome news given that 147 people had died on the state’s roadways this year up through July 3. That compares to 136 at that time in 2011.

Keep in mind that AAA also projected this is was among the busiest Independence Days on state roads in several years.

The Fourth of July is typically the state’s deadliest travel day based on the department statistics. The travel period runs from 6 p.m. July 3 to 6 a.m. July 5, and the last three Independence Day holidays totaled 15 traffic deaths.

Keep the trend going. Motorists, stay vigilant. Remember to buckle up, drive at safe speeds, obey traffic signs, and, of course, don’t drink and drive.

Tags: opinion, editorials