TZD Tuesday - Distracted Driving Sends a Dangerous Message

Most Minnesotans know that using a phone behind the wheel is distracting and can lead to severe consequences on the road. But that’s not the only thing that is diverting attention away from driving. Shaving. Putting on makeup. Fiddling with the touchscreen on your car stereo system. And even changing clothes. All of these can take your eyes off the road and ultimately cause you to crash.

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, from April 1 through April 30.

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.
• Visit HandsFreeMN.org and DriveSmartMN.org for more information.

No one intends to seriously injure or kill someone by driving distracted, but good intentions alone don’t prevent crashes. Smart choices do.