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MN law enforcement launch distracted driving campaign
Minnesota law enforcement launched a statewide distracted driving enforcement effort to reduce crashes and save lives. Officials and the family of a crash victim, including Shakopee Mayor Matt Lehman, spoke on the campaign as officers increase enforcement efforts.
SHAKOPEE, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota law enforcement is ramping up efforts to stop distracted driving this April as families and officials push for safer roads.
Statewide campaign targets distracted
The backstory:
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is leading a distracted driving education and enforcement campaign from April 1–30. More than 300 law enforcement agencies are participating, increasing patrols and targeting distracted drivers across the state.
The campaign is backed by Shakopee Mayor Matt Lehman, whose daughter-in-law, Ashley, died after sustaining injuries from a crash in July 2025.
What they're saying:
"All of our lives changed instantly and have been turned upside down ever since," said Lehman. "I talk to God and Ashley daily. Both tell me to use my 40 years of automotive experience and decades on racetracks to help educate and prevent the loss of innocent lives, to help other families navigate the forever nightmare and family destruction from distracted, impaired and reckless driving."
Officials say the extra enforcement will mean more officers watching for distracted drivers, and the campaign will be visible through ads and outreach efforts across Minnesota.
Distracted driving crashes
By the numbers:
Distracted driving has been linked to thousands of crashes and hundreds of deaths in Minnesota over recent years.
From 2020 to 2026, there were 33,183 crashes caused by distracted driving, resulting in 888 serious injuries and 162 deaths. In 2025 alone, at least 21 people died and 159 were seriously hurt in distracted driving crashes, according to a press release.
"Almost every crash that happens is an avoidable tragedy. We want to protect families by reminding drivers to focus on the road," said OTS Director Mike Hanson. "Lives really do depend on how much attention you give the road."
Minnesota has had a hands-free law in place since 2019, prohibiting drivers from holding their phones. But officials say enforcement alone isn’t enough.
"Enforcement alone won't solve this. This comes down to decisions that every driver makes," said Minnesota State Patrol Chief Col. Christina Bogojevic, adding, "Our troopers will be out there doing everything we can, but the real difference happens whenever we make a traffic stop. Driving demands your full attention, every road, every mile, every time."
The Source: This story uses information from a DPS press release and news conference.