Officers will be increasing enforcement efforts this month as part of statewide campaign
Public Safety Director Bruce Painter said the Burlington Township Police Department will be participating in the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety 2018 Distracted Driving Crackdown “U Drive, U Text, U Pay.” Between the dates of April 1 and April 21, officers will be increasing enforcement efforts as part of a statewide high visibility campaign aimed at reducing the amount of distracted driver-related motor vehicle crashes.
According to the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety: “Distracted driving is any activity that diverts a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. These distractions include texting, using a cell phone, eating and drinking, talking to passengers, grooming, reading (including maps), using a navigation system, watching a video, and adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player. The statistics regarding cell phone use while driving are particularly troubling. At any given daylight moment in the country, approximately 660,000 thousand people are using their cell phone while behind the wheel. In the average month, more than 150 billion text messages are sent in the U.S., many by drivers.”
It is reported that driver inattention is by far the leading contributing factor in motor vehicle crashes in the state of New Jersey. The objective of this campaign is to reduce the number of motor vehicle fatalities in the state with a distracted driver contributing cause by 2.5 percent. It is also designed to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and to offer deterrence through visible enforcement.
The Burlington Township Police Department urges motorists to:
• Turn off electronic devices and put them out of reach before starting to drive.
• Be good role models for young drivers and set a good example. Talk with your teens about responsible driving.
• Speak up when you are a passenger and your driver uses an electronic device while driving. Offer to make the call or text for the driver, so his or her full attention stays on the driving task.
• Always wear your seat belt. Seat belts are the best defense against other unsafe drivers.
