Distracted Driving Crackdown Coming to Minnesota

To increase awareness and change dangerous behaviors, more than 300 Minnesota law enforcement agencies will begin a three-week extra distracted driving enforcement campaign starting April 8th.

Distracted drivers believe the myth that they can multitask behind the wheel. Those killed by distracted drivers — a college student, a pregnant mother, a cross country runner — tragically dispel that myth.

Distracted Driving in Minnesota is Dangerous Driving

• Continuing a six-year trend, texting citations climbed 30 percent from 2017 to 2018.
• Distracted driving contributes to one in five crashes in Minnesota.
• Distracted driving contributes to an average of 45 deaths and 204 life-changing injuries a year (2014 – 2018 preliminary) in Minnesota.

Speak Up and Join Minnesotans Driving Distracted-Free

• Cell phones — Put the phone down, turn it off or place it out of reach.
• 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 proper 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.

Distracted Driving Consequences

• With Minnesota’s “No Texting” law, it’s illegal for drivers to read or send texts and emails and access the web while the vehicle is in motion or a part of traffic. That includes sitting at a stoplight or stop sign. Penalties for this violation can include:
  • $50 plus court fees for a first offense.
  • $275 plus court fees for a second and/or subsequent offense.
  • If you injure or kill someone because of texting and driving, you can face a felony charge of criminal vehicular operation or homicide.

Imagine how you would react if an officer knocked on your door and told you a loved one died in a car crash. Now imagine if you were the cause of the cause of that scenario.