ST. PAUL - Monday marked the beginning of the 100 deadliest days on Minnesota roads and officials are focusing on increases cases of teen drivers being distracted behind the wheel.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety says on average, there's 129 road fatalities between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Last year was the deadliest 100 day stretch in the last five years, accounting for 137 of 411 deaths.

A recent AAA report emphasized increasing risky behaviors made by teenage drivers, saying 60 percent of moderate-to-severe teen driving crashes involve some form of distraction.

"Crashes for teen drivers increase significantly during the summer months because teens drive more during this time of year," the report says.

Across the country, over the past five years during the "100 deadliest days": an average of 1,022 people died each year in crashes involving teen drivers and the average number of deaths from crashes involving teens aged 16-19 increased by 16 percent each day compared to other days of the year.

Driver behaviors like speed, distraction, lack of seat belt use and drunk driving continue to be top contributing factors in Minnesota road fatalities.

Extra Enforcement

Law enforcement agencies across the state are now out on roads participating in the Click It or Ticket campaign which runs through June 5th.

The DPS says speeding increases with warmer weather. From July 8th through the 22nd, extra enforcement targeting speeding drivers will take place.

There's also extra impaired enforcement being planned statewide from August 19th through Labor Day.

More From AM 1240 WJON