Choose to pay attention - distraction free

Scrolling through social media on your cellphone. Unwrapping that delicious cheeseburger. Checking that work email that someone just sent. Those are all fine — from the comfort of your couch. Behind the wheel? They could be deadly. That’s why law enforcement agencies and traffic safety partners are dedicating extra time in April to educate motorists, enforce the hands-free cellphone law and help stop other distracting behaviors.

Distracted driving contributed to nearly 30,000 crashes in Minnesota from 2019-2023 (preliminary figures). The distracted driving extra enforcement and awareness campaign runs through April 30.

Preliminary figures for Minnesota show:

• Distracted driving contributed to one in 11 crashes from 2019-2023.

• Distracted driving contributed to an average of 29 deaths and 146 life-changing injuries a year from 2019-2023.

Hands-free cellphone law: The law allows a driver to use their cellphone to make calls, text, listen to music or podcasts and get directions, but only by voice commands or single-touch activation without holding the phone. Remember, hands-free is not necessarily distraction-free.

• $100 or more including court fees for a first offense.

• $300 or more including court fees for a second and/or subsequent offense.

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