FAIRMONT — With recent snow and the poor road conditions winter inevitably brings, one would assume people are thinking twice about taking time to be cautious while driving. After all, who wants to end up sliding into a snowplow, a ditch or oncoming vehicle?

But in good weather or bad, all motorists need to be aware of the day-to-day dangers of distracted driving.

Recently, a Minnesota legislator, Sen. David Osmek, R-Mound, announced he wants injuries or deaths caused by distracted drivers to result in jail time and fines, just as if they were charged for driving under the influence.

According to Minnesota’s Office of Traffic Safety, distracted or inattentive driving is a factor in one in four crashes in Minnesota, resulting in at least 70 deaths and 350 serious injuries per year. That means distracted driving is now the fourth-leading cause of crashes causing serious injuries or death, behind speeding, lack of seat belts and drunken driving.

Martin County Sheriff Jeff Markquart and Chief Deputy Corey Klanderud shared some information on the issue.

“We see it everyday,” Klanderud said. “Unfortunately it’s an ongoing battle, even though the statewide traffic enforcement and (Toward Zero Deaths) program works to publicize and make it more well known that distractions are a big cause in a lot of accidents.

“We have a safe roads coalition here in Martin County, and that group talks about these different issues and comes up with different things that we can do from an education standpoint. Enforcement is a big part of that too, but it’s an ongoing battle to get people to put down their phones and their food.”

Despite popular belief, the pair say the problem is not relegated to just one group of people.

“It’s everybody,” Klanderud said. “Maybe some of the oldest generation of drivers aren’t using their phones while driving, but they would be the only ones. But I would probably say ages 25 through 65 are the biggest offenders.”

“I think it’s because we’ve become a society that is on the go so much,” Markquart said. “We’re trying not to miss something, and we’re always moving or going places.”

“What’s worse, everybody expects an instantaneous response,” Klanderud said. “People send a text message and they’re expecting somebody to get back to them right away, so drivers have that expectation in their heads and they hear that chime or notification and they can’t wait to check it out. All ages are guilty of that.”

“It’s an eye-opener if you get into some of the city trucks that are moving snow and just watch cars,” Markquart continued. “If you just watch cars, it’s crazy how many people are sitting there driving and holding a sandwich, or makeup, their phone, even reading a paper or a book. So phones are a big part of it, but it’s not just phones.

“Even parents talking to the kids in back, it’s just a whole bunch of stuff that adds up and can be a problem.”

Klanderud said the best thing people can do for their own safety and that of others is to stop trying to multi-task on the road.

“We need to just focus on the most important thing we’re doing at the moment,” he said. “Even hands-free phone conversations, it’s better than holding it, but it’s still a distraction.”

“I think we can all say that we’ve talked to someone, even on a hands-free device, and we can ask ‘Where are you at right now?’ and they don’t clearly know,” Markquart said. “So there’s a point within the last however many miles that we’re just on auto pilot and not really seeing our surroundings.”

As a reminder, it is illegal in Minnesota for drivers to read, compose or send texts and e-mails, or go online while a vehicle is in motion or a part of traffic. This includes sitting in stopped traffic. It also is illegal for drivers with a permit or provisional driver’s license to use a cellphone while driving, except to call 911 in an emergency.