Law enforcement officials in the east metro area will soon be getting specialized pickup trucks in order to have a better view into vehicles to help crack down on dangerous driving behaviors.
The higher vantage point should allow police officers to more easily see if another driver is texting behind the wheel or failing to wear their seat belt.
“We need to get creative in how we’re combating the unacceptable driving behaviors and rising deaths we’re seeing on our roads,” DPS’ Office of Traffic Safety Director Mike Hanson said in a statement. “People are dying because drivers are selfishly making terrible choices. These trucks are not going to be the entire answer, but this tool will help our law enforcement partners raise the awareness of these critical traffic safety issues and help change behavior — and we’ll take any help we can get.”
Cutting Down On Distracted Driving
The Office of Traffic Safety is providing grants totaling $624,325 to the Blaine, Brooklyn Park, Eagan, Elk River, Grand Rapids, Orono and St. Paul police departments to help fund the purchases. Grants will also be given to the Olmsted County and Washington County Sheriff’s offices to supply each with a pickup truck. Each agency will be required to match 20 percent of the total costs of the new vehicles.
“There’s so many people texting and driving, and everyone’s nonchalant about it,” said Richfield police Sgt. Matt Steen.
Steen went on to say that he pulled over a distracted driver on Tuesday who told him, “Sorry, I missed breakfast and I was ordering lunch online.”
According to the most recent statistics, distracted driving contributes to an average of 29 deaths and 146 life-changing injuries a year in Minnesota. Those numbers could rise this year, as the preliminary numbers on traffic fatalities are up in 2024. There have already been 49 fatal car crashes in Minnesota this year with any cause listed as the reason for crash, up from 29 at the same time last year.
It’s unlikely that police will get the vehicles in time to help with the current distracted driver crackdown that runs through April, but just know that police will still have ways to catch distracted drivers even after the crackdown ends. Buckle up, put the phones down and make smart choices behind the wheel so that you and everyone else on the roads can get to their destination safely.
For help fighting a distracted driving charge or a similar traffic offense, reach out to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
