Distracted Driving

Distracted driving has emerged as one of the key safety issues in the U.S.

• Driver distraction was reported to have been involved in 16 percent of all fatal crashes in 2008 according to data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
• The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers was the under-20 age group.
• An estimated 21 percent of injury crashes were reported to have involved distracted driving, according to data from the General Estimates System (GES).

From: Curbing Distracted Driving: 2010 Survey of State Safety Programs (PDF), Governors Highway Safety Association, 2010

Research

Research reports and other resources regarding distracted driving

• 2015 Minnesota Distracted Driving Survey (PDF)
  Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety, 2015
• 2014 High-Risk Driver Analysis (PDF)
  Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety, 2014
• An Analysis of Driver Inattention Using a Case-Crossover Approach On 100-Car Data: Final Report (PDF)
  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2010
  This report recommends strategies for addressing issues related to distracted driving.
• Curbing Distracted Driving: 2010 Survey of State Safety Programs (PDF)
  Governors Highway Safety Association, 2010
  This report details a host of approaches states are implementing to battle distracted driving, including stronger laws, increased data collection, new education programs, public/private partnerships and a growing reliance on new media to spread the message.
• Measuring Distraction Potential of Operating In-Vehicle Devices (PDF)
  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2009
  This report recommends strategies for addressing issues related to distracted driving and operation of in-vehicle devices.
• Traffic Safety Facts - Research Note: An Examination of Driver Distraction as Recorded in NHTSA Databases (PDF)
  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2009
  This research note provides fatality, injury, on-scene crash investigation, and survey data associated with distracted driving.
• Teens and Distracted Driving (PDF)
  Pew Research Center, 2009
  This report provides statistics related to young drivers and distracted driving.
• Cell Phones and Driving: Research Update (PDF)
  AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 2008
  This research update presents new data from the AAA Foundation's Traffic Safety Culture Index on drivers' cell phone use and their attitudes toward distracted driving, as well as data on driver cell phone use from a recent omnibus survey conducted for the AAA Foundation.
• Driving Performance During Cell Phone Conversations and Common In-Vehicle Tasks While Sober and Drunk (PDF)
  Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2005
  MnDOT 2005-41

Legislation in Minnesota

• Minnesota's hands-free law on the OTS website
• Minnesota's statute regarding the use of wireless devices while driving
• Summary of Minnesota Highway Safety Laws
  Governors Highway Safety Association

Legislation elsewhere

• Curbing Distracted Driving: 2010 Survey of State Safety Programs (PDF)
  Governors Highway Safety Association

Videos and other resources

• NHTSA: Distracted Driving
  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration resources related to distracted driving.
• U Drive. U Text. U Pay.
  Distracted driving enforcement materials from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for its 2018 national campaign.
• Shattered Dreams: Distracted Driving Changes Lives
  Ten-minute video by the Minnesota State Patrol sharing the story of a crash that killed a mother of two, featuring the driver and the victim's husband.
• Distracted driving materials 
  Minnestoa Safety Council/MN Network of Employers for Traffic Safety
• Minnesota Texting While Driving TV Spot: Mom
  Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety
• Minnesota Texting While Driving TV Spot: Teen
  Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety
• Distracted driving resources
  Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety
• AT&T Don't Text While Driving Documentary
• Don’t Text and Drive! 2010 Teen PSA Contest Winners
  Features winning videos from the 2010 Teen PSA Contest.