Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety

06/12/2026

We are not even in the heart of the motorcycle driving season, and there have been 27 motorcycle fatalities this year. That number is too high.

For the families of those 27 people, it is heartbreaking.

What can you do?

Drivers: Slow down. Check your blind spot – check it twice. Look out for motorcyclists.

Motorcycle riders:
• Protect yourself and your passengers.
• Use high visibility gear that protects your brain and your body.
• Follow the speed limit – especially when cornering.

Brush up on your skills by signing up for a motorcycle rider course today: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ots/safe-driving-information-and-laws/mn-motorcycle-safety-center/motorcycle-training-courses

06/06/2026

See that? Don’t do it!

Too many drivers underestimate the importance of properly securing cargo. This truck is a good example of what not to do. All it takes is one bump or a strong gust of wind for an unsecured load to become a serious hazard.

Before hitting the road, take the time to strap down everything exposed to the elements and make a second trip if necessary.

Properly secured items protect you, your passengers and everyone else sharing the road.

06/01/2026

Summer days are here, but there’s still one last week left of school for many Minnesota students.

That means school buses are still picking up students. Drivers, when you see red lights flashing, you must stop 20 feet away — even if the stop arm isn’t fully extended.

Let’s work together to make it a safe end to the school year for everyone.

05/20/2026

The days from Memorial Day to Labor Day are some of the most heavily traveled of the year nationwide and are often referred to as the “100 Deadliest Days” on the road.

To help prevent crashes and save lives, law enforcement agencies across the state are stepping up high-visibility enforcement targeting dangerous and reckless driving behaviors. Tomorrow, multiple agencies are gathering in Eagan for a coordinated roll call supporting the summer safety campaign.

Nearly 300 hundred law enforcement agencies are participating statewide. The goal is simple: keep Minnesota roads safe and let violators know they will be stopped.

Help make Memorial Day safe and fun. Obey speed limits, wear a seat belt, never drive impaired and stay focused on the road.

Minnesota law enforcement officers are gathering at Eagen Police De...

05/14/2026

SCAM ALERT: Be vigilant and don’t fall for the latest internet scam. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does not issue summons for traffic violations. If you need to check your driving record online go to the DVS website: https://onlineservices.dps.mn.gov/EServices/?Link=CredentialStatus

05/11/2026

A seat belt, a car seat and a legacy.

When Jennifer Starkson stood up at a press conference last year, she had a simple message: Use the right car seat for your children on every trip. She knows firsthand why it matters.

Her daughter, Morgan, was killed in a crash, but Morgan’s three children survived because they were properly secured in car seats. In the middle of tragedy, those car seats saved lives.

No one plans for a crash, but every driver and parent can prepare for one.

The May extra seat belt enforcement and awareness campaign starts today and runs through the end of the month, reminding everyone to buckle up and make sure children are properly secured every time they are on the road.

https://dps.mn.gov/news/ots/simple-choice-wear-seat-belt-and-save-life-get-ticket-buckle

05/06/2026

It happens in a moment: a student goes to step off a school bus, and the driver reaches out and pulls them back. Why? A car is coming, trying to swerve around the bus instead of stopping. Then the moment passes and the driver lets go.

Stories like this are far too common. Drivers race past buses and ignore the stop arm.

Minnesota recently updated the existing school bus law to make the rules clearer. If you see red lights on the top of the bus, it's time to stop — at least 20 feet away, in any direction.

Respect student safety. Slow down.

05/04/2026

When a crash happens and a person cannot reasonably walk away, it’s considered a serious injury. In some cases, people may die months later as a result of their injuries.

Why does it matter? Because last year, at least 388 people were seriously injured in speed-related crashes.

These incidents change lives — for those injured, for their families and for entire communities. Even those who survive often face long recoveries, including months in the hospital.

For what? Trying to save a few minutes on the road?

Minnesota law enforcement is starting a summer long extra enforcement campaign to stop speeding. Officers, deputies and troopers will be stopping drivers who go over the limit, and they will write tickets.

The goal is simple: to help prevent crashes and keep people safe.

Slow down, drive smart or expect to be pulled over.

05/01/2026

Spring is here, which means weather is changing fast from day to day. That’s why it’s important to never leave kids behind in a car as the weather warms up, even for a few minutes. Before you leave the car, always: Stop. Look. Lock.

04/28/2026

Hear that call? The ding of a text message? A notification from your favorite social media app? If you respond while driving, you put yourself and everyone else on the road at risk. That call could cost you more than a ticket, so park the phone and focus on the road.