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A text, notification or phone call can wait. Throughout September, law enforcement agencies across North Dakota will increase patrols to remind drivers that their attention belongs on the road.
According to Vision Zero information, the Sept. 1-30 enforcement period is part of the Put the Phone Away or Pay campaign and focuses on enforcing North Dakota’s distracted driving law.
Driving requires a person’s full attention. Looking at a phone, adjusting navigation, reaching for something in the vehicle or allowing other distractions to take focus away from the road can increase the risk of a crash. Even a few seconds of inattention can have serious consequences.
Distracted driving is also difficult to accurately identify in crash data because drivers may not admit they were distracted or the distraction may not be evident following a crash. In 2025, lane departure crashes occurred about every two hours in North Dakota. Staying alert and focused behind the wheel can help prevent drivers from leaving their lane and reduce the risk of a crash.
“A citation may get someone’s attention, but our goal is bigger than writing tickets,” said Capt. Justin Sundheim of the Minot Police Department. “We want drivers to make safer choices behind the wheel and prevent distracted driving crashes before they happen.”
Drivers can reduce distractions before they begin driving by setting navigation, choosing music and putting their phone somewhere that limits the temptation to use it.
Vision Zero encourages North Dakotans to take the Buckle Up Phone Down pledge and make two commitments every trip: wear a seat belt and drive distraction-free.
Put the Phone Away or Pay is part of the Vision Zero strategy to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries on North Dakota roads.