When November rolls around, our thoughts naturally turn to birds—and one bird in particular: the turkey. According to the National Turkey Federation, 94% of Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, and 87% of those households make turkey the centerpiece of their holiday meal.
Then, of course, there are the wild turkeys that now call nearly every corner of Minnesota home, including our urban neighborhoods. Once nearly extinct in the state in the early 1900s, Minnesota’s wild turkey population has rebounded to nearly 70,000, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Ask anyone who has encountered a flock while walking, running, or driving, and you’re likely to hear stories of stubborn birds refusing to yield, blocking the way, or behaving a little too aggressively.
Sound familiar?
In the spirit of longtime Minnesota Star Tribune sports columnist Pat Reusse, who traditionally uses his Thanksgiving column to recognize a “Turkey of the Year,” November seems like a fitting time to reflect on some equally questionable “turkey” behaviors taking place on Minnesota’s roadways.
Consider these:
- A 20-year-old motorcyclist was clocked on Interstate 94 in Maplewood by the Minnesota State Patrol traveling at a staggering 146 mph in a 70-mph zone. He casually claimed he was just “out for a Sunday drive”.
- The St. Cloud driver an officer caught typing on a laptop while simultaneously holding a cell phone in heavy traffic.
- A semi-truck driver so deeply distracted that he failed to notice a Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office deputy trying to pull him over until they crossed into the next county.
- The teenage driver near Deer River state troopers pulled after catching him on radar going 107 mph in a 65-mph zone. His excuse? He was running late for basketball practice.
From drivers who treat speed limits as suggestions to those who can’t seem to put down their phones, there’s certainly no shortage of behavior that leaves the rest of us shaking our heads. While I won’t be handing out any awards or naming a winner, these reckless choices deserve some attention—because unlike a little holiday foolishness, the consequences on our roads can be deadly.
To end on a high note this season of thanksgiving, I’m grateful for the law enforcement officers across Minnesota who work to make us safer on our roadways. During this summer’s 100 Deadly Days on the Road enforcement campaign, officers made 1,431 driving while impaired (DWI) arrests and issued 51,615 speeding citations, including 68 to drivers traveling 100 miles per hour or more.
I’m also grateful for each of you who work tirelessly toward the goal of making sure every driver, passenger and pedestrian returns home safely every day.
Yours in traffic safety,
Lisa
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