Question: I know the distracted driving law has been around for a while now, but can you please talk about it some more?
Answer: Driver distraction or inattention is a leading factor in crashes in Minnesota, accounting for at least 25 percent of all crashes annually. Distracted drivers fail to recognize potential hazards on the road and react more slowly to traffic conditions, decreasing their margin of safety.
Types of driver distraction:
• Visual: Looking away from the road
• Mechanical/physical: Taking hands off the wheel
• Cognitive: Being “lost in thought”
• Distractions inside the vehicle such as using a cell phone or GPS, reaching for items, eating and drinking, adjusting the radio, talking to other passengers, reading maps or other materials.
Even when you are watching the road, behaviors such as looking at a crash scene or daydreaming can divert attention from your driving responsibilities.
For safety, give the task of driving your full attention at all times.
Certain driver behaviors are illegal on Minnesota roads.
These include using a cell phone or wireless computer device for text messaging, emailing or accessing the internet while driving, including while stopped in traffic.
Drivers under age 18 with an instruction permit or provisional license are prohibited from using a cell phone, whether handheld or hands-free, except to call 911 in an emergency.
It is also illegal to wear headphones or earphones in both ears simultaneously to listen to a radio or other sound-producing device.
Any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Trooper Troy Christianson, Minnesota State Patrol, 2900 48th St., NW, Rochester MN 55901-5848; or send an email to: Troy.Christianson@state.mn.us.