Minnesota’s April Distracted Driving Citations ‘Extremely Frustrating’

Disturbing, unacceptable and extremely frustrating — those are the words from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety when describing the number of distracted driving citations in April.

“The number of citations issued is disturbing, unacceptable and extremely frustrating,” said Mike Hanson, DPS Office of Traffic Safety director. “Getting distracted behind the wheel for even a couple seconds can end with someone being seriously hurt or killed. What if that someone was your loved one? Put distractions away and make the roads safer for everyone.”

Law enforcement from across Minnesota cited more than 5,300 drivers for distracted driver during the month-long campaign, which is nearly 2,000 more citations than April of last year.

In the Great Minnesota area, the State Patrol’s Virginia region gave out the most citations at 387.

In the Duluth region, the State Patrol cited 134 drivers.

The Duluth Police Department cited an additional 38 drivers.

Meanwhile, when it comes to distracted driving in Minnesota between 2019 and 2023, one in 11 crashes involved distracted driving, and 29 people were killed, including 146 life-changing injuries, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

Minnesota and Wisconsin both have hands-free driving laws.

For more crash-related statistics in Minnesota, click here.