BISMARCK, N.D. (NDDOT) – The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) and the North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) is reminding drivers to take personal responsibility when travelling, as we enter the busy summer travel season that begins Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

“As of May 22, there have been 33 motor vehicle fatalities in North Dakota. This is a 50% increase in motor vehicle fatalities compared to this time last year,” says Karin Mongeon, Safety Division Director with the NDDOT.

Of these fatalities to date, nearly 70% were not wearing their seat belt.  Wearing a seat belt keeps you safe inside your vehicle and is your best defense against an impaired, distracted and/or speeding driver. Almost 40% of these fatalities involved alcohol and 25% were speed-related.

“The traveling public has the ability to prevent crash fatalities and serious injuries from occurring by accepting personal responsibility for driver and passenger safety to achieve North Dakota’s Vision Zero goal,” says Sgt. Wade Kadrmas with the NDHP.  “This includes always wearing a seat belt, transporting children in child passenger safety seats appropriate for the child’s age, height, and weight, driving distraction free, driving sober and obeying all posted speed limits and all other traffic laws.”

Vision Zero is North Dakota’s strategy to achieve zero motor vehicle fatalities and serious injuries on North Dakota roads.