A statewide crackdown on speeding drivers has been announced in Minnesota alongside an educational campaign aimed at motorists driving at dangerous speeds.

Minnesota State Patrol says there has been an “alarming increase” in the number of drivers going 100 mph or more in 2020.

Troopers wrote 1,068 citations to drivers traveling more than 100 mph, compared to 533 in 2019 – a 100 percent increase. One driver was caught speeding at 153 mph.

Preliminary reports show 120 motorists died in speed-related crashes in 2020, the most since 2008 when 125 people lost their lives.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety (DPS-OTS), in collaboration with the Minnesota Departments of Health and Transportation, is implementing extra enforcement and a public outreach campaign.

DPS-OTS has secured $1m in funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to co-ordinate the campaign. The effort will include the State Patrol, police and sheriff departments around the state.

As part of the campaign, drivers who speed are being warned they should expect to be stopped.

“We’re taking a multi-agency, concerted effort with law enforcement and traffic safety partners statewide because speeding is the one bad decision that makes every other driving mistake worse,” said Mike Hanson, Office of Traffic Safety director.