Put the Phone Away or Pay: Protecting lives on North Dakota roads
Bismarck, N.D. – Law enforcement across North Dakota will have extra patrols on the road during September to remind drivers to stay focused and distraction-free as part of the national Put the Phone Away or Pay safety campaign.
Distracted driving is one of the fastest-growing safety issues on the road today, and it’s not just a threat to the driver—it’s a danger to everyone. Distraction is a common contributing factor in most crashes and near-crashes, and texting while driving is so dangerous that drivers are six times more likely to crash than someone driving under the influence.
Although distracted driving is vasty underreported as a factor in crashes, preliminary data for 2024 shows there were 936 distracted driving–related crashes in North Dakota, including 12 fatalities and 43 serious injuries. Even a moment of distraction – whether it’s glancing at a phone, adjusting the radio or talking to passengers – can lead to a crash. Distraction can also lead to lane departure crashes, which are among the most severe because they often occur at high speeds. Last year, lane departure crashes resulted in 1,561 injuries and 48 fatalities in the state.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for five seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.
In conjunction with the distracted driving enforcement campaign, Vision Zero is asking all North Dakotans to take the Buckle Up Phone Down pledge and commit to wearing a seat belt and driving distraction-free every trip, every time.
This campaign is part of the Vision Zero strategy to eliminate motor vehicle crash fatalities and serious injuries on North Dakota roads.
Visit the North Dakota Crash Memorial Wall to view memorials built on the hope of preventing another death on North Dakota roads.