Watch for extra law enforcement presence while traveling in Minnesota in coming days

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Motorists traveling through Minnesota on two of the country’s most highly traveled and dangerous interstates will notice an extra law enforcement presence during a four-day enforcement campaign starting Friday.

The Minnesota State Patrol and law enforcement officials in 14 other states are joining together with a goal of zero deaths on Interstates 94 and 90 between Washington state and New York Aug. 1-4. That’s more than 5,600 miles of road.

The I-90/94 Challenge will use education, awareness and strict enforcement to save lives and remind all motorists to drive safely.

“We’re looking to go 0 for 4 this weekend: Zero traffic fatalities and less than 300 total crashes along the entire Interstate 90/94 corridor during the four-day period,” said Lt. Col. Matt Langer of the Minnesota State Patrol. “Law enforcement agencies in 15 states are banding together and cracking down on driving behavior that too often have tragic consequences. We need drivers to slow down, wear their seat belts, drive sober, and pay attention.”

The I-90/94 Challenge was initiated by the Minnesota State Patrol in response to the International Association of Chiefs of Police goal to reduce traffic fatalities this year in the United States by 15 percent.

The problem on I-90 and I-94:

From Aug. 1-4 over the past three years, I-90/94 averages:
524 total crashes
136 injury crashes
56 crashes involving a big truck or bus
10 alcohol-related crashes
3 fatal crashes
The goal:

Zero fatalities during the four-day period.
Cut all other crashes in half.