Distracted driving: it's not getting better, and now it's a problem that is getting worse. And Minnesota's public safety officials say it is simply due to drivers making a "selfish choice."
"This is a societal issue," State Office of Traffic Safety Director Mike Hanson says.
And with that, a warning to drivers on Wednesday from the state's Department of Public Safety, and stories of heartbreak from Shakopee Mayor Matt Lehman, who described the pain of losing his daughter-in-law Ashley in a distracted driving crash. The worst part, he says, is not being able to fix it.
"The hardest part for me personally has been watching each member of my family struggle in so many ways," Lehman says.
With at least 21 distracted-driving-related deaths and 159 serious injuries last year, Hanson is again urging drivers to put the phone down. He says a camera-assisted enforcement pilot project in Minnetonka last summer tells you all you need to know.
"That technology detected in one direction on a four lane divided roadway in one month, it detected 10,000 interactions," Hanson said.
Extra patrols will be out on the roads, looking specifically for distracted drivers during the month of April. It's a month-long extra enforcement campaign where law enforcement will specifically be looking for those who continue to violate the state's hands-free law.
"Parents, you are the example," warns Hanson. "If you don't want your kids to be interacting with that phone when they're driving, then set the example."
Hanson says there were at least 21 fatalities and 159 serious injury crashes related to distracted driving last year.
In addition to hands-free violations, officials say even something like eating behind the wheel or adjusting settings on your car's touchscreen is a distraction from focusing on the road.
