Nancy Edmonds Hanson
hansonnanc@gmail.com

Put down that phone!
Minnesota drivers face a stark choice starting August 1, when a new law forbids handling their cellphones while driving. The safety measure, passed by the 2019 Legislature, is aimed at reducing the number of crashes instigated by distracted driving. It takes direct aim at one of the biggest distractions of all – dialing, answering and talking on a portable phone when all of the driver’s attention should be focused on the road.
“It’s going to be a real culture shock with a steep learning curve,” says Capt. Deric Swenson of the Moorhead Police Department. “Texting while driving was forbidden by law five years ago … and yet, many people still haven’t broken that habit. This is going to be an even bigger challenge.”
Drivers distracted by their everpresent cellphones are a threat to everyone on city streets and on the highway. According to Swenson, 60,000 accidents were attributed to the use of cellphones from 2014 to 2018. One out of five Minnesota crashes is attributed to distracted driving. That adds up to 45 deaths and 204 life-changing injuries a year. “It could be more,” he adds. “We know it’s underreported. People don’t always admit what they were doing when we couldn’t see.
“The reason for this law isn’t to find another way for the government to come down on you or to generate revenue. We want to save lives – to make the roads and streets safer for you and everyone else. We need to learn to put down those phones.”
The new law permits only “hands-free” phone use. That means drivers can still use their phones to make calls, text, listen to music or podcasts, and get directions … but only by using voice commands. Single-touch activation is also allowed, so long as you’re not holding the phone in your hand.
It also permits hand-held usage to summon emergency assistance, if there is an immediate threat to life and safety, or in an authorized emergency vehicle while performing official duties. That means police officers can technically talk the old-fashioned way while on duty. But regardless of that provision, Deric says the Moorhead department will be equipping all squad cars with visor-mounted Bluetooth receivers in next week: “We want to set a good example.”
Those phones are strictly off limits for all the rest of the ways in which people love to use them: video calling, video live-treaming, Snapchat, gaming, watching video or photos, reading texts, and scrolling or typing. Teens under 18 have been forbidden to use cellphones while driving for several years.
Violating the new statute carries a first-time fine of $50 plus court costs. Repeat offenders face fines of $250.
“Your reaction time is much slower when your attention wanders from your driving,” Deric points out. “That’s a problem both around town and when you’re driving in the country. Faster speeds make reaction time more critical on the highway, but there’s also more going on all around you on city streets.”
Yet, he says, using cellphones has become a social norm. “We want to get people to really reflect on how what they’re doing can affect other people – and themselves. This is something that we can all do to help make the roads safer.”
Hands-free operation is easier for those with newer vehicles, which are now equipped to connect to phones via Bluetooth. Those with older vehicles have two options: to purchase and use a Bluetooth receiver like those being installed in police cars, available online and at local electronics dealers for $15 and up … or not using their cellphones at all while their cars are moving.
“After all,” he reminds drivers, “until just a few years ago, that was the norm.”