New ads about safe driving introduced

Talk about it

WORTHINGTON — Mixing anything distracting with the chore of driving is dangerous, something the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) Office of Traffic Safety is trying to point out with a bit of dark humor.

In advance of the statewide distracted driving enforcement effort of April 21, the DPS this week released two new TV spots addressing the dangers of texting while driving. The spots feature fatal crash victims texting from body bags.

“Are you still texting?” a morgue worker asks after unzipping a body bag and seeing a person inside typing away on their phone.

There are two ads, one featuring a busy mom who talks about notifying a babysitter she’s running late.

“I have to let daycare know I’m running late,” the woman explains. “You know they charge you if you’re late.”

The second shows a teenage boy texting away and commenting about telling a female friend about the experience.

“Is this a real morgue, with dead bodies and stuff?” the teen asks. “Oh, I gotta tell Ashley.”

“Ashley identified your body after you wrapped your car around a light pole,” the morgue worker replies.

In each commercial, the morgue attendant explains to the victims that texting caused their deadly crashes, but neither seems to notice.

“These spots magnify that texting while driving is illegal for a reason — it is particularly dangerous and may have deadly consequences,” stated Cheri Marti, DPS Office of Traffic Safety director. “Texting and driving is its own universe of risk. No matter how routine driving may seem, the driving environment changes constantly — and can change in an instant — and drivers must be focused to best react to avoid a crash.”

In Minnesota, it is illegal for drivers to read, compose or send texts/emails, and access the Web on a wireless device while the vehicle is in motion or a part of traffic, such as at a stoplight or stuck in traffic. It is also illegal for drivers younger than age 18 to use a cell phone at any time.

Driver distraction is a leading crash factor in Minnesota, accounting for around 20 percent of all crashes annually, resulting in at least 70 deaths and 350 injuries. The DPS reports these numbers are vastly underreported due to officers’ challenges of determining “distraction” as a contributing crash factor.

During the April 21 distracted driving enforcement, motorists will be stopped for behavior that would endanger the motoring public. Driver distractions can include reaching for items, fiddling with radio/music/vehicle controls, eating/drinking, dealing with rowdy passengers, grooming and more.

The DPS offers these tips to minimize distractions:

* Cell phones — turn off cell phones, or place them out of reach to avoid the urge to dial/answer or read or send a text. If a passenger is present, ask them to handle calls/texts.

* Music and other controls — pre-program favorite radio stations and arrange music in an easy-to-access spot. Adjust mirrors and AC/heat before traveling, or ask a passenger to assist.

* Navigation — designate a passenger to serve as a co-pilot to help with directions. If driving alone, map out destinations in advance, and pull over to study a map or program the GPS.

* Eating and drinking — try to avoid food/beverage, at least messy foods, and have drinks secured.

* Children — teach children the importance of good behavior in a vehicle; do not underestimate how distracting it can be to tend to children while driving.

* Passengers should speak up to stop drivers from distracted driving behavior.

* If making/receiving a call to/from someone driving, ask them to call back when they are not driving.

Tags: public safety, news, crime