DPS Staff Report

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety compiled preliminary results from enhanced distracted driving enforcement efforts April 19.

In addition to enforcement, public education was a key component of the effort. By promoting and publicizing the enforcement action, our focus was on raising awareness that texting while driving is illegal and is a contributing factor in one-fourth of all crashes in Minnesota. Officers took the opportunity to talk with motorists about inattentive driving during stops.

To provide context for the following numbers, there were 3.5 texting citations issued on a typical day 2011.

Summary of Preliminary Results (as of April 25) for the Distracted Driving Day on April 19:

• 142 agencies have reported (out of 250 participating agencies)

• 97 texting citations total

•  2,419 stops made

The figures above are considered very preliminary as the number of citations will rise as the 108 remaining agencies submit their reports.