One out of every 4 car crashes in the United States is caused by distracted driving. In Minnesota during 2017, car accidents caused by distracted driving were caused by teenagers 1.5 times more than the general population.

Minnesota law already prohibits drivers under the age of 18 from using a cellphone, either hand-held or hands-free, except if they need to call 911. Current law also prohibits all drivers from texting or using any devices/applications that use the internet, including when they are stopped at a stop sign or light. However, according to state numbers in 2017, the number of texting and driving citations increased 23 percent from 2016. Furthermore, speeding and drinking while driving are on a downward trend thanks to law enforcement action, but distracted driving is increasing.

The bill being considered by MN Legislature would ban all drivers from using hand-held phones and electronic devices. The expectation would be that they can touch the device to answer a call, start a podcast or activate a navigation app.

There are currently 16 states that have already banned the use of hand-held cell phones and electronic devices while driving. Text messaging is banned for all drivers in 47 states and the District of Columbia and the use of cell phones by novice drivers is restricted in 38 states and the District of Columbia.

The bill was first proposed to MN Legislatures in May of 2018. While the bill had received bipartisan support, it did not receive enough votes to make it to the House floor. Opponents of the bill cited that using a phone was just as distracting as eating or changing the radio while driving. Instead, opponents of the bill are pushing to pass more strict laws against texting, checking emails or using social media while driving.

Within the SPA community itself, distracted driving is present in many student’s lives. For Junior Aidan Lanz, it took a near accident caused by distracted driving to make him realize the dangers that come with it.

“I think that it is really easy to get distracted while driving, but it’s also a really dumb thing to do. We’re always on our phones so its really easy to just check a text or change the music. It doesn’t seem dangerous at the time but it can be a deadly mistake, so it’s better to just try not to become distracted while driving. A little bit of prevention can go a long way,” Lanz said.

Lanz also believes there are some simple ways that students can prevent distracted driving: “I think that everyone should use the do not disturb while driving feature on our phones. Also, putting phones to charge in cars in a backseat or somewhere where they are not accessible while driving is a good idea.”

Senior Phillip Bragg agrees with Lanz’s sentiments about the necessity to reduce distractions while driving.

“I have the do not disturb while driving feature on when I drive because we are impatient people, so if we get a notification or text on our phones we want to know what it is immediately. It seems so innocent to just check a text, but a crash can happen so easily. I support the hands-free bill that MN Legislatures are trying to pass because I think the only way to really reduce distracted driving is to have stricter laws,” Bragg said.

Click here to view some tips and suggestions that The Minnesota Office of Traffic Saftey provides to prevent against distracted driving.

103 students in grades 10-12 answered a poll about how often they may engage with activities while driving that are considered to be distracting. See the results from the poll below: