Traffic deaths down slightly in 2013
Traffic deaths in Minnesota fell by about 5 percent in 2013, according to an end-of-year tally from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
The numbers are still preliminary, but state officials said there were about 375 traffic deaths in the state in 2013, compared to 395 in 2012. That's down more than one-third compared to a decade ago.
The dip reflects decreases in the deaths of pedestrians, bicyclists and motor vehicle passengers, although motorcycle-related fatalities rose from 55 deaths in 2012 to 60 deaths in 2013.
Drunk driving, failure to buckle up, speeding and distracted driving are the four factors that still account for most of the fatalities on Minnesota roads.
The final number of deaths is expected to grow slightly as records are compiled for the state's annual traffic report, issued in early summer.
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