Law enforcement agencies are conducting an educational push coupled with a targeted enforcement effort on distracted drivers during the first week of August.

Driver distraction is a leading factor in crashes in Minnesota, accounting for at least 25 percent of all crashes annually, resulting in 70 deaths and 350 injuries. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety reports these numbers are vastly underreported due to the challenges of determining “distraction” as a contributing crash factor.

Albert Lea Police Lt. J.D. Carlson said the campaign will have a comprehensive focus on all distractions behind the wheel, beyond cell phone use and texting.

“Inattentive driving includes a range of distractions, from daydreaming to reaching for items to changing music,” said Carlson. “Our intent is to make contact with as many motorists as possible to educate them that when you’re behind the wheel, your absolute focus needs to be on the road.”

In Minnesota it is illegal for drivers to read or compose 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. It is illegal for drivers under age 18 to use a cell phone at any time. Other laws address a driver’s “duty to drive with due care.”

There are four main types of driver distraction:

Visual: looking away from the road.

Mechanical/Physical: taking hands off the wheel: manipulation of controls, such as dialing a cell phone or adjusting radio or music device.

Cognitive: being “lost in thought,” or focusing on a conversation, resulting in withdrawing from situational awareness.

A combination of these: reading a map or texting while driving.

Distractions cause drivers to react more slowly to traffic conditions or events, such as a vehicle stopping or pulling out in traffic. To minimize distractions:

Cell phones: Turn off cell phones, or place them out of reach to avoid the urge to dial or answer. If a passenger is present, ask them to handle calls/texts.

Music and other controls: Pre-program your favorite radio stations for easy access and arrange music (mp3 player/CDs/tapes) in an easy-to-access spot. Adjust mirrors and heat/AC 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 a safe location to study a map.

If you cannot avoid eating or drinking, at least avoid messy foods, and be sure food and drinks are secured.

Teach children the importance of good behavior in the vehicle; do not underestimate how distracting it can be to tend to children in a vehicle.

If you’re a passenger, speak up to stop drivers from distracted driving behaviors.

“No matter how routine driving may seem, the driving environment changes constantly and you need to be focused to be able to react,” Carlson said. “Take the task of driving seriously. When you’re driving, don’t use time in the driver’s seat to conduct other, less necessary business.”

The enforcement and education effort is a component of the state’s Toward Zero Deaths traffic safety program. TZD is the state’s core traffic safety program that uses a multidisciplinary approach to address traffic issues regionally through enforcement, education, engineering and emergency trauma care. The goal of the TZD is 400 or fewer road deaths by 2010.