Skip to content

Condition: Post with Page_List

Listen
Search
Please enter at least 3 characters.

Latest Stories

Hands-Free Still a Challenge for Some

Distracted driving-related fatalities up over last year

Hands-free still a problem for some
Getty Images

It seems we could use a little reminder when it comes to Minnesota's Hands-Free Cellphone law.

"While we have seen people do it and they're doing a great job with it, we're still seeing some that are falling back into old habits," said Minnesota State Patrol Lieutenant Gordon Shank.


Shank says most people are complying, but there are still too many drivers who are not.

"Just make sure you drive smart and put the phone away. If it's something where you can't put it away because it's such a habit, put it somewhere where you can't reach it, whether it's in your glove box, in your trunk, or somewhere way far away in your backseat where you won't be able to grab it," said Shank.

Figures from the Department of Public Safety show more than 20-thousand citations have been issued since the hand-free law was enacted in August of 2019 - the majority of them to middle-aged males in the Twin Cities metro. Distracted driving-related fatalities are also up this year over last, according to Shank.

Distracted driving-related fatalities up over last year