Wednesday will mark one year since the deadliest day on Minnesota roads in 2012.

Eight people died on Minnesota roads on Feb. 20, 2012. Among those killed were four female North Dakota State students who crashed on Interstate 94 near Alexandria.

According to preliminary fatal crash reports, there were 384 traffic deaths in 2012, up from 368 in 2011. Last year was the second time since 1944 the state has recorded fewer than 400 deaths.

The longest streak of days in which there was at least one road death was 16 days, while the longest streak of days in which there were zero deaths was only four days (occurred Jan. 15–18; Feb. 5–8 and June 10–13). There were 136 days with zero traffic deaths.

“It’s critical that we all take the task of driving seriously and focus on the drive so we can create more zero death days for the future and avoid these preventable tragedies,” says Donna Berger, DPS director of the Office of Traffic Safety.

Berger said most crashes are caused by driver error and can be prevented by buckling up, driving at safe speeds, paying attention and planning ahead for a sober ride before drinking alcohol.

In the past 20 years, there have been eight days with 10 or more deaths.

 

2012 deadliest days:

—Feb. 20: 8

—May 30: 6

—Nov. 6: 6

—March 3: 5

—June 23: 5

—Dec. 27: 5