We all know we shouldn’t text and drive. But let’s be real: most of us still do. It’s one of those habits that’s so easy to justify in the moment:
“It’s just a quick text.”
“I only do it at stoplights — nothing’s happening anyway.”
“I’m great at multitasking. I can keep the road in my peripherals.”
The truth? Those small moments are a major reason for car crashes across our state — in 2024, 724 were caused by distracted driving.
Since 2020, South Dakota has been a hands-free state. That means it’s illegal to hold your phone to talk, text or do anything else while you’re behind the wheel. And there’s a good reason for the law: We surveyed South Dakotans, and 73% of them said texting and driving was the most dangerous part of driving in our state.
The hands-free law may focus on phones, but distracted driving covers a lot more. If you’re on the road, you probably shouldn’t be…
Staying focused is just as simple as you’d probably think. It just takes a little bit of planning and an intentional effort to beat our own bad habits. If our phone buzzes, we reach for it — at this point, it’s second nature. Here’s a few ways to avoid that instinct.
We all know better. But knowing and doing aren’t the same thing. Keeping South Dakota’s roads safe starts with you —
so keep the phone down and your eyes up.