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July 4th traffic brings distracted driving worries

It's one of the busiest times of the year on the roads - and that means more distracted drivers.

MINNEAPOLIS - Busier roads with cars full of families and RVs with boats and trailers in tow - it's all part of this time of year when we hit the road and soak up that summer sun.

But it's also one of the busiest times for distractions behind the wheel.

"We are tracking at or slightly ahead of last year at this time when we look at the number of fatalities, particularly the number of fatalities that have occurred in the first 30 of the 100 deadliest days on the road," explained Mike Hanson, head of the Officer of Traffic Safety with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

Over the past 5 years, the number of distraction-related crashes and fatalities has continued to climb despite countless efforts to change the laws and change drivers behavior. It's an epidemic not just for teens, but for everyone, Hanson said.

"If people don't think distraction is an issue, all they have to do is take a drive on 494, 394, look left look right when its safe to do so and just see what's going on in the vehicles around you," he explained.

The challenge is getting motorists to change their own behavior when behind the wheel.

"It's going to take everyone working together to solve this and for drivers to make the right decision behind the wheel for their sake, for the passengers sake, and for the sake of everyone else trying to use the road," Hanson said.

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