Drive Smart: Driving Distracted Sends a Dangerous Message
March 31, 2022
ST. PAUL — No one intends to seriously injure or kill someone by driving distracted, but good intentions alone don’t prevent crashes. Smart choices do. In Minnesota, the dangerous choice to drive distracted contributed to more than 39,000 crashes from 2017-2021 and an average of 28 deaths and 161 serious, life-changing injuries each 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. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety coordinates the campaign with funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It includes advertising across Minnesota in support of the Toward Zero Deaths traffic safety initiative.
“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.”
Distracted Driving is Dangerous Driving in Minnesota
- In 2021, preliminary figures show distracted driving contributed to 2,165 injuries and 26 deaths.
- Distracted driving contributed to one in nine crashes from 2017-2021.
Progress but Improvement is Needed
- In 2010, there were:
- 75 distraction-related traffic fatalities.
- 234 suspected serious injuries.
- In 2021, preliminary figures show there were:
- 26 distraction-related traffic fatalities.
- 101 suspected serious injuries.
- Recent figures show:
| Distracted Driving | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Total |
| Fatalities | 24 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 26 | 142 |
| Serious Injuries | 218 | 179 | 149 | 158 | 101 | 805 |
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.
Drive Smart and Join Minnesotans Driving Distracted Free
- Cell phones: Park the phone by putting it down, turning it off, placing it out of reach or going hands free.
- Music and other controls: Pre-program radio stations and arrange music in an easy-to-access spot. Adjust mirrors and ventilation before traveling.
- Navigation: Map out the destination and enter the GPS route in advance.
- Eating and drinking: Avoid messy foods and secure drinks.
- Children: Teach children the importance of good behavior in a vehicle and model safe driving behavior.
- 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.
About the Minnesota Department of Public Safety
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) comprises 10 divisions where 2,200 employees operate programs in the areas of law enforcement, crime victim assistance, traffic safety, alcohol and gambling, emergency communications, fire safety, pipeline safety, driver licensing, vehicle registration and emergency management. DPS activity is anchored by three core principles: education, enforcement and prevention.
About the Office of Traffic Safety
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety (DPS-OTS) designs, implements and coordinates federally funded traffic safety enforcement and education programs to improve driver behaviors and reduce the deaths and serious injuries that occur on Minnesota roads. DPS-OTS also administers state funds for the motorcycle safety program and for the child seats for needy families program.
###
CONTACT:
Dave Boxum 651-201-7569
dave.boxum@state.mn.us
dave.boxum@state.mn.us
March 31, 2022
Drive Smart: Driving Distracted Sends a Dangerous Message
Extra Enforcement on Minnesota Roads April 1 - 30
Page Content
ST. PAUL — No one intends to seriously injure or kill someone by driving distracted, but good intentions alone don’t prevent crashes. Smart choices do. In Minnesota, the dangerous choice to drive distracted contributed to more than 39,000 crashes from 2017-2021 and an average of 28 deaths and 161 serious, life-changing injuries each 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. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety coordinates the campaign with funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It includes advertising across Minnesota in support of the Toward Zero Deaths traffic safety initiative.
“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.”
Distracted Driving is Dangerous Driving in Minnesota
- In 2021, preliminary figures show distracted driving contributed to 2,165 injuries and 26 deaths.
- Distracted driving contributed to one in nine crashes from 2017-2021.
Progress but Improvement is Needed
- In 2010, there were:
- 75 distraction-related traffic fatalities.
- 234 suspected serious injuries.
- In 2021, preliminary figures show there were:
- 26 distraction-related traffic fatalities.
- 101 suspected serious injuries.
- Recent figures show:
| Distracted Driving | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Total |
| Fatalities | 24 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 26 | 142 |
| Serious Injuries | 218 | 179 | 149 | 158 | 101 | 805 |
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.
Drive Smart and Join Minnesotans Driving Distracted Free
- Cell phones: Park the phone by putting it down, turning it off, placing it out of reach or going hands free.
- Music and other controls: Pre-program radio stations and arrange music in an easy-to-access spot. Adjust mirrors and ventilation before traveling.
- Navigation: Map out the destination and enter the GPS route in advance.
- Eating and drinking: Avoid messy foods and secure drinks.
- Children: Teach children the importance of good behavior in a vehicle and model safe driving behavior.
- 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.
About the Minnesota Department of Public Safety
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) comprises 10 divisions where 2,200 employees operate programs in the areas of law enforcement, crime victim assistance, traffic safety, alcohol and gambling, emergency communications, fire safety, pipeline safety, driver licensing, vehicle registration and emergency management. DPS activity is anchored by three core principles: education, enforcement and prevention.
About the Office of Traffic Safety
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety (DPS-OTS) designs, implements and coordinates federally funded traffic safety enforcement and education programs to improve driver behaviors and reduce the deaths and serious injuries that occur on Minnesota roads. DPS-OTS also administers state funds for the motorcycle safety program and for the child seats for needy families program.
###