Minnesota Is Cracking Down On Distracted Driving This April

For 19-year-old Phillip LaVallee, running countless miles over Minnesota roads helped make him one of the state’s top high school distance runners and a talented college athlete. The miles, the training and his life came to an abrupt end as he was running along a Wright County road in August 2013.

Authorities said a distracted driver went over the center line, across oncoming traffic and onto the far shoulder, and struck and killed LaVallee.

Less than a month after turning 22, Megan Goeltz — a single mother — was killed in a crash on Highway 95 in Washington County.

Her daughter Paisley was 3 at the time of the fatal 2016 collision. The Minnesota State Patrol said the other driver involved in the incident may have been distracted while driving.

In a matter of seconds, a driver’s choice to take their eyes off the road can have fatal consequences.

That's why more than 300 law enforcement agencies statewide will be conducting extra distracted driving enforcement April 9 – 22 to protect Minnesotans from those deadly decisions. Authorities will sue overtime funding provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For LaVallee’s family, Phillip’s death created “Just Drive,” a call-to-action for Minnesotans to pay attention behind the wheel.

"Phillip's death was horrific but completely preventable. The pain of his absence is always present in our lives, and our family is forever incomplete," Greg LaVallee, Phillip’s father, said in a statement.

"We ask Minnesotans to please take to heart how selfish it is to drive distracted. Phillip is forever running in our hearts, but all we have is memories. Being an attentive driver is a simple choice and will save lives."

Distracted Driving Consequences

Minnesota’s “No Texting” law makes it illegal for drivers to read, send texts and emails, and access the web while the vehicle is in motion or a part of traffic. That includes sitting at a stoplight or stop sign.

• $50 plus court fees for a first offense.
• $275 plus court fees for a second or subsequent offense.

If you injure or kill someone because of texting and driving, you can face a felony charge of criminal vehicular operation or homicide.

Distracted Driving by the Numbers

Distracted driving contributes to an average of 59 deaths and 223 serious injuries a year (2012 – 2016).

Texting citations climbed nearly 23 percent from 2016 to 2017:

• 2012 — 1,707
• 2013 — 2,177
• 2014 — 3,498
• 2015 — 4,115
• 2016 — 5,988
• 2017 — 7,357

When a crash occurs in Minnesota, the driver behavior that law enforcement agencies cite most often as a contributing factor is inattention or distraction.

Images via Minnesota Department of Safety