Even though traffic fatalities were down 18 percent across Minnesota in 2006 compared to the 2001-2005 average, Carlton County's numbers were up.
In 2006, Carlton County saw nine traffic deaths, while the county's average number from 2001-2005 was only 6.2, according to a report released by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
In northeastern Minnesota, Carlton County claimed the highest increase in traffic deaths.
A good number of those deaths happened in the city of Cloquet, due to a number of factors, according to Cloquet Police Chief Wade Lamirande.
"We have some of the more dangerous intersections in the county and more and more people driving through town," he said.
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Specificially, he referred to the way Interstate 35 exits into Cloquet from the south, and many of the somewhat complicated intersections along Highway 33 pose problems for motorists.
"Coming around that curve onto Highway 33, for example, there are always accidents there because people can't seem to slow down quick enough," he said. "Historically, this has been an issue for us, the city and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT)."
The intersections along frontage roads and Highway 33 are tricky as well.
"Too many people are treating stop signs as yield signs and there are too many cars coming from too many directions in those areas," Lamirande said.
The city of Cloquet, Cloquet Police and Mn/DOT are currently working on traffic management and safety solutions.
"It's difficult because of a lack of space and wetland issues, among other challenges," he said.
Cloquet police recently have increased patrolling in those areas of town to reduce speeding, and Lamirande encourages drivers to slow down, buckle up and stay sober.
"Those are the three main factors in traffic deaths," he said.
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Pine Journal Editor Lisa Baumann can be contacted at: lbaumann@pinejournal.com .
