Hwy. 55 Safe & Sober project successful

Law enforcement officers in Wright County, as well as motorists, enjoyed a safe weekend October 24th and 25th on Hwy. 55. Officers from the Annandale, Buffalo, Howard Lake police departments and state troopers joined efforts with Wright County deputies in ensuring traffic safety on the state highway from South Haven to Rockford.

Five intoxicated drivers were safely removed from the highway during the evening and early morning shifts and no traffic crashes were reported. Over 100 vehicles were stopped and citations were issued for speed, no proof of insurance, driving with revoked licenses and other assorted violations.

“Obviously our message on the hazards of impaired driving and speed is making an impact,” said Wright County Sheriff Gary Miller. “Deputies working the Hwy. 55 project reported average speeds in the 55-59 mph range and almost all drivers hadn’t been consuming alcoholic beverages or using illegal drugs.”

Watch for extra traffic enforcement during the last two weeks of November. Wright County law enforcement will be participating in the November Seat Belt Wave and Mobilization. A concentrated effort will be made to encourage motorists and passengers to buckle up through saturation patrols on state highways and county roads with the use of laser radar. Seatbelt surveys will be conducted prior to and after the wave to determine if our efforts were successful. Wright County motorists have proven to be an educated group as evident by last May’s 80% compliance rate, which is above state average.

2003 has been a deadly year on Minnesota roadways. October ended with 512 traffic fatalities so far this year compared to 475 at the same time last year. “Seatbelt use, safe speeds and sober driving can reverse this deadly trend,” said Miller.

The Safe & Sober campaign is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and administered by the Office of Traffic Safety. The program is designed to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries.  

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