MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — The 100 Deadliest Days are off to a troubled start near Mitchell.
The term refers to the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when fatal auto accidents are most common. With school out, teenagers are on the road more. They tend to be the least safe demographic due to lack of experience behind the wheel. Summer vacations mean road trips across long distances with drivers touring through unfamiliar places. Some will decide to celebrate with a drink and ride sharing services don’t always operate near remote lakes in cabin country or close to campgrounds.
The State Dakota Highway Patrol has already clocked multiple drivers doing triple-figures on the radar gun this week in the Mitchell region. In a post on Facebook, the department warns that blasting past the speed limit on state roads means there is less reaction time to deal with changes in the weather or unexpected conditions like a broken-down vehicle. High speeds also bring with them more severe crashes, maybe even life-threatening ones.
Expect more campaigns by the highway patrol over the summer looking for reckless and distracted driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics, and failure to use a seat belt.
