Drive smart: Driving while distracted sends a dangerous message

No one intends to seriously injure or kill someone by driving while distracted, but good intentions alone don’t prevent crashes. Smart choices do.
In Minnesota the dangerous choice of driving while distracted contributed to more than 39,000 crashes from 2017-2021 and an average of 28 deaths and 161 serious, life-changing injuries per year on the road.
To increase awareness and change dangerous driving behaviors, law enforcement agencies statewide are participating in a distracted driving enforcement campaign, including extra enforcement, April 1 through April 30.
 
Hands-free cell phone use is the law
The hands-free cell phone law means drivers can no longer hold their phone in their hand.
A driver can use voice commands or single-touch activation without holding the phone to make calls, text, listen to music or podcasts, and get directions.
Accessing or posting on social media, streaming videos, checking box scores and Googling information on a device while driving are all still against the law in Minnesota, even in hands-free mode.
 
Consequences for violating the Hands-Free Law
$100 or more including court fees for a first offense.
$300 or more including court fees for a second and/or subsequent offense.
If you injure or kill someone while violating the hands-free law, you can face a felony charge of criminal vehicular operation or homicide.
“It doesn’t take much for the life story of a distracted driver to end, just like that, or end the life stories of other people on the road,” said Mike Hanson, Office of Traffic Safety director.
“It can end the second they text with the phone in their hand, are lost in thought and not focused on driving, or take their eyes off the road to reach for something. Park the phone, avoid distractions and pay attention. That’s the way to drive smart and keep yourself and others safe and alive.”
 
Drive smart and drive distracted-free
Pre-program radio stations and arrange music in an easy-to-access spot. Adjust mirrors and ventilation before traveling.
For navigation, map out the destination and enter the route in advance.
When eating and drinking, avoid messy foods and secure drinks.
Teach children the importance of good behavior in a vehicle and model safe driving behaviors.
Passengers, speak up to stop drivers from distracted-driving behavior and offer to help with anything that takes the driver’s attention off the road.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety coordinates the campaign with funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.