Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony Kearns III, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor, and Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Detectives Frank R. Crisologo announced that law enforcement officers from Somerset and Hunterdon County will be cracking down on distracted drivers during the month of April, as part of New Jersey’s UDrive. UText. UPay. enforcement campaign.
According to authorities, starting on April 1st and running through April 21st, the high-visibility law enforcement initiative will target motorists who engage in dangerous distracted driving behaviors such as talking on hand-held cell phones and sending text messages while driving.
“Distracted driving is possibly the most serious safety issue on our roadways today,” said Eric Heitmann, Director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. "The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2015 alone, 3,477 people were killed in distracted driving crashes and an estimated 391,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver.”
In New Jersey, driver inattention was listed as a contributing circumstance in 52 percent of the state’s crashes in 2015. Driver inattention was, in fact listed as a contributing factor in crashes at a rate nine times higher than that of the next highest contributing factor (speed).
This campaign is being carried out during the month of April, which the National Safety Council has designated as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The New Jersey campaign is modeled after similar successful high-visibility enforcement programs such as Click It or Ticket and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
Drivers are encouraged to be proactive with their behavior and choices. Hands-on or hands-free, it is only a matter of time before fate catches up to each of us who choose to take part in this risky behavior. If you are talking on a cell phone, hands-free or hands-on, the risk of being in a crash increases by 4 times. Sending or receiving a text message increases the crash risk 8-23 times (National Safety Council).
Officials say we all need to do our part to make the roads safer and save a life, perhaps our own or that of a loved one. Make the choice to be safer and to be a good role model. When driving:
Turn your phone off
Install an app to disable your phone
Put the phone in the trunk, back seat or glove box
Simply ignore the alerts until you get to your destination
Remember talking, texting or manipulating a cell phone is a risky behavior that we choose to be involved in. When that action results in a bad outcome, we are responsible. Make the safe and smarter choice when you’re driving, no distractions, just drive.
Prosecutor Robertson and Chief Fodor request anyone with information to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at (908) 231-7100 or via the STOPit app.