7.5 Distracted Driving, Aggressive Driving, Obstructed View & Towing Loads
Key Takeaways
- Driver distraction or inattention accounts for at least 25 percent of all Minnesota crashes annually.
- The three types of driver distraction are visual (eyes off the road), mechanical or physical (hands off the wheel), and cognitive (mind off the task).
- It is illegal in Minnesota to wear headphones or earphones in both ears at the same time while driving.
- A load may not project more than three feet in front of the front wheels, and a load extending four feet or more past the rear needs a 16-inch red, yellow or orange flag.
- When towing a camper or trailer you must keep at least 500 feet of following distance, and 10 to 15 percent of the trailer's loaded weight should rest on the hitch.
7.5 Distracted Driving, Aggressive Driving, Obstructed View & Towing Loads
Quick Answer: Distraction or inattention causes at least 25 percent of all Minnesota crashes annually. Distraction comes in three forms — visual (looking away), mechanical/physical (hands off the wheel), and cognitive (lost in thought). Minnesota makes it illegal to compose, read or send electronic messages or access the internet while driving, and illegal to wear headphones in both ears at once. A load may not project more than 3 feet in front of the front wheels; a load extending 4 feet or more past the rear needs a 16-inch flag (or a red lamp visible 500 feet at night). Towing a camper or trailer requires at least 500 feet of following distance.
1. Distracted Driving
Driver distraction or inattention is a leading factor in Minnesota crashes, accounting for at least 25 percent of all crashes annually. Distracted drivers fail to recognize potential hazards and react more slowly to traffic conditions, shrinking their margin of safety.
The Three Types of Distraction
| Type | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Visual | Looking away from the road | Glancing at a crash scene, checking a screen |
| Mechanical / physical | Taking hands off the wheel | Reaching for a dropped item, eating |
| Cognitive | Being "lost in thought" | Daydreaming, an absorbing conversation |
The cognitive category is the one drivers underrate. Even when you are watching the road, behaviors such as looking at a crash scene or daydreaming divert attention from your driving responsibilities.
Distractions Inside the Vehicle
The manual lists these specifically:
- Using a cell phone
- Using a GPS
- Reaching for items
- Eating and drinking
- Adjusting the radio
- Talking to other passengers
- Reading maps and other materials
Preparing to smoke and smoking while driving are also distracting activities — the official DVS practice test asks this directly.
Give the task of driving your full attention at all times.
Illegal Driver Behaviors in Minnesota
These are not merely unsafe — they are unlawful:
- Using a cell phone or wireless computer device for text messaging, emailing, or accessing the internet while driving — including while stopped in traffic
- Drivers under 18 with an instruction permit or provisional license using a cell phone at all, whether handheld or hands-free, except to call 911 in an emergency
- Wearing headphones or earphones in both ears simultaneously to listen to a radio or other sound-producing device
A minor whose phone rings while driving should let the call go to voice mail — a hands-free device does not make it legal for them.
2. Aggressive Driving
People who drive aggressively tend to have a low level of concern for other motorists. They show anger and frustration while driving — and the manual makes a pointed observation: this is not necessarily because of other drivers' actions, but because of their personal mindset.
What Aggressive Driving Looks Like
Aggressive driving usually involves driving faster than surrounding vehicles, which leads to:
- Following too closely
- Changing lanes frequently and abruptly, often without signaling
- Passing other vehicles on the shoulder
- Glaring at or threatening other motorists
Two Directives
If you recognize your own behavior in that description: make a greater effort to stay calm when driving. Safe driving requires courtesy and cooperation from all drivers.
If you are confronted by an aggressive driver:
- Do not challenge them
- Stay out of their way
- Avoid eye contact
- Do not allow the situation to escalate
This is also why the zipper merge matters beyond throughput: by keeping both lanes moving at the same speed, it removes the perceived unfairness that triggers aggressive responses.
3. Obstructed View
It is illegal to drive a vehicle packed with a load or occupied by more than three people in the front seat.
The reason is mechanical, not arbitrary: the items or people obstruct your view to the front or sides or interfere with your ability to control the vehicle. A front bench seat with four adults leaves the driver unable to steer through a full range of motion.
4. Carrying a Projecting Load
These figures are precise and testable.
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| MINNESOTA PROJECTING LOAD LIMITS |
| |
| FRONT ...... Load must NOT extend more than 3 FEET in front of the |
| front wheels or bumper |
| |
| REAR ....... Load extending 4 FEET OR MORE past the rear requires a |
| RED, YELLOW or ORANGE FLAG at least 16 INCHES SQUARE |
| attached to the end of the load |
| |
| AT NIGHT ... A RED LANTERN or LAMP visible from at least 500 FEET |
| must be attached to the end of the load |
| |
| SIDES ...... Passenger vehicles: NO load beyond the fender line on the |
| LEFT; no more than 6 INCHES beyond the fender on the RIGHT |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
The asymmetry on the sides is deliberate: the left side of your vehicle faces oncoming or passing traffic, so nothing may protrude there, while a modest six-inch overhang is tolerated on the curb side.
5. Campers and Trailers
Following Distance
If you pull a camper or trailer, you must maintain at least 500 feet of following distance from other vehicles. This is a legal minimum, far longer than the three-second rule that governs an unloaded car, because a loaded combination cannot stop or maneuver like a solo vehicle.
Loading the Trailer Correctly
- When loaded, 10 to 15 percent of the trailer's weight should rest on the hitch between trailer and vehicle
- When correctly loaded, the trailer's floor should be level
- After the first few miles, stop and check the hitch, tires, lights and load — and repeat this at all rest stops
Too little tongue weight causes trailer sway; too much unloads the tow vehicle's front wheels and degrades steering.
Speed and Braking
- Travel at a slower speed. Many trailers have smaller wheels that turn faster than your car's wheels, causing heat buildup that can lead to trailer wheel bearing failure
- Your vehicle's brakes were probably not designed to handle heavy trailer loads. A sudden stop at high speed could flip both the trailer and the car
Recreational Vehicle Combinations
A Class D license covers recreational vehicles such as motor homes and camping trailers used for personal purposes, and towing is allowed within the weight limits described in Section 1.4 — trailer gross weight of 10,000 pounds or less, or a heavier trailer where the combined weight stays at 26,000 pounds or less.
According to the Minnesota Driver's Manual, roughly what share of all Minnesota crashes annually involves driver distraction or inattention?
A driver is hauling lumber in a pickup truck, and the load extends five feet beyond the rear bumper. What does Minnesota law require during daylight hours?
Another motorist is tailgating you, changing lanes abruptly without signaling, and glaring at you when they pull alongside. What does the Minnesota Driver's Manual advise?