Reaching down for an item that fell on the floor, turning around to settle the kids down and picking up the cellphone for an incoming call. These acts all seem harmless until a driver with their eyes off the road leads to a crash.

In 2015, distracted driving contributed to 7,666 injuries and 74 deaths in the state.

For the first time, law enforcement across the state is extending the extra enforcement period to two weeks to conduct overtime patrols for distractive driving.

On Monday, the Albert Lea Police Department and Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office started the extra enforcement along with more than 300 law enforcement agencies across Minnesota.

The distracted driving campaign, which runs through April 23, is coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety.

“Now is the time to change the culture, put down the phone, tune out the distractions and speak up if you see others on the road risking the lives of other motorists,” said Albert Lea Police Department Lt. Jeff Strom. “Together we can do this. We can stop distracted driving before it’s your loved one you are saying goodbye to.”

Too Many Lives Lost

Too many people are not making driving the No. 1 priority behind the wheel.

More than 86,000 crashes were distracted driving-related from 2011-2015, contributing to one in four crashes in Minnesota.

Distracted driving contributes to an average of 65 deaths and 215 life-changing injuries a year.

During the 2015 distracted driving extra enforcement campaign, law enforcement cited 909 drivers for texting and driving, an 80 percent increase over the previous year.

Penalties

$50 plus court fees for a first offense.

$275 plus court fees for a second and/or subsequent offense.

You can face a felony charge if you injure or kill someone because of texting and driving.

What can you do to help?

Cellphones — Put the phone down, turn it off or place it out of reach.

Music and other controls — Pre-program radio stations and arrange music in an easy-to-access spot. Adjust mirrors and ventilation before traveling.

Navigation — Map out the destination and enter the GPS route in advance.

Eating and drinking — Avoid messy foods and secure drinks.

• Children — Teach children the importance of good behavior in a vehicle and model proper driving behavior.

Passengers — Speak up to stop drivers from distracted driving behavior and offer to help with anything that takes the driver’s attention off the road.