Police departments in New Jersey will begin today targeting distracted drivers as part of a nationwide enforcement campaign called “U Drive. U Text. U Pay.,” which seeks to stop one of the most dangerous habits that motorists display.
The Division of Highway Traffic Safety annually awards dozens of department for the initiative, and many more agencies are expected to participate unfunded. Lakewood did not receive any funds for the campaign.
The campaign begins April 1 and runs through April 21.
The crackdowns are similar in scope to the “Drive Sober, or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket” mobilizations, which have targeted impaired driving and seat belt usage, respectively. The campaign is part of a nationwide effort, which was developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and will coincide with nationally-observed Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
Researchers have found that distracted driving is a major problem, especially for young drivers. According to the AAA Foundation, analysis of crash videos of teen drivers found significant evidence that distracted driving is likely much more widespread than previously known. The organization’s new findings, issued earlier this month, found that distraction was a factor in nearly 6 out of 10 moderate-to-severe teen crashes, which is four times as many as official estimates based on police reports.
Researchers analyzed the six seconds leading up to a crash in nearly 1,700 videos of teen drivers taken from in-vehicle event recorders. The results showed that distraction was a factor in 58 percent of all crashes studied; including 89 percent of road-departure crashes and 76 percent of rear-end crashes. NTHSA previously has estimated that distraction is a factor in only 14 percent of all teen driver crashes.
It is illegal in New Jersey to operate a motor vehicle while using a handheld electronic device. Violating this law subjects motorists to fines of $200 to $400 for a first offense and could increase to $800 and three insurance points in subsequent violations.
Last year in Lakewood, over 100 tickets were issued during the campaign.
Why no funds for Lakewood ?
Also another question – when the ticket being issued in Lakewood Township, doesn’t the proceeds of the ticket go to the Township ? Can someone clarify this ? Thank you.
1) apparently they realized that Lakewood is hopeless!
2) no. 80% of fines go to the state and other assorted nonsense
I’m confused. The LPD didn’t receive funding to warn people not to drive distracted, or didn’t receive funding to help enforce it?
Because honestly, anyone with a license should know better than to need a colorful reminder sign. And when it comes to enforcing, the state police are wandering around, and having the assistance of the amazing LCSW (as well as the low crime compared to other local towns) allows the police to focus on ticketing.
Welcome to the major problem effecting everyone in today’s generation. “FACING REALITY” and “LIVING IN DENIAL” I use this example of people texting and driving with my patients when it comes to thousands of major issues people CANT FACE REALITY AND ADMIT TO THE PROBLEMS THEY ARE HAVING.
How many thousands of texting and driving accidents happen weekly? Do YOU know anyone that has stopped texting yet? The situation is so bad that we are laughing in Hashems face and saying ha hah you can’t get me to stop texting and driving unless you C”V make an accident happen to me.
And this is the TRUE MASHAL I use with us today klal Yisroel as a nation when it comes to the tragic times we have come to of non stop horrific tragedies R”L all over klal Yisroel. Why have we still not woken up to a time of serious teshuva as a nation together? How bad does the situation need to get C”V? Has it not gotten horrific enough already?
I pray that we all take this texting and driving message from Hashem to wake all of us up to serious teshuva with whats going on all over klal Yisroel and not just on the road.