The National Safety Council says that based on preliminary figures from states, the number of fatal crashes per 100 million miles driven rose an “alarming” 14 percent compared with March of 2019.
Planes are carrying medical personnel, essential workers and people returning from abroad or visiting critically ill relatives. Airlines are blocking middle seats and taking other safety measures.
The rush in speeding shows up in multiple ways in an MPR News analysis of speeding tickets issued by the Minnesota State Patrol, which enforces traffic laws on Minnesota highways.
Miles driven in the U.S. plummeted remarkably in the middle of March — dropping by 30 percent in a single week. Now driving is slowly resuming, a trend that began before stay-at-home orders were lifted.
Department of Public Safety officials say even though traffic volume has dropped by about 50 percent since the stay-at-home order, fatalities on Minnesota roadways increased 50 percent over the past few weeks.
Florida relents and will allow a Carnival cruise ship with sick passengers and crew to dock in Fort Lauderdale. The Zaandam has been at sea for weeks after leaving Argentina.
The money will allow the state to convert the 12 miles from Nicollet and New Ulm to four lanes from the current two, providing four lanes all the way from New Ulm to Winona. The state will provide the other half of the funding for the $74 million project.
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