HEAT (Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic)

Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic SafetyExcessive or illegal speed is the most commonly reported factor in fatal crashes, especially during summer, the deadliest period on Minnesota roads. Each year in Minnesota, speed contributes to about 150 traffic deaths and 7,000 injuries.The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) launched an extensive speed control project in September 2005 involving engineering, enforcement and education. This project, dubbed HEAT (highway enforcement of aggressive traffic), involved speed limit studies and adjustments, increased speed enforcement and education.The goals of the program are to:Reduce fatalities and severe injuries on interstates and expresswaysReduce high travel speeds on those roadwaysPrevent excessive speeding on the roads selected that go to 60 mphIncrease public perception of enforcement presenceThe program was supported in the first 12 months by $3 million in fede...