Lower Township Police Will Watch for Driving Texters April 1-21

ERMA – Law enforcement officers from the Lower Township Police Department will be cracking down on distracted drivers during April as part of New Jersey’s UDrive. UText. UPay. high-visibility enforcement (HVE) campaign.
According to a release, beginning April 1 and running through April 21, 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 has become one of the most common reasons for vehicle crashes on America’s roads, being cited as a major contributing factor in over 804,000 motor vehicle crashes in the state from 2011 to 2015.
That’s why the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is teaming up with law enforcement agencies across the United States for the national U Drive. U Text. U Pay. high-visibility enforcement effort.
From April 1 to 21, officers will be on high alert to catch distracted drivers and enforce distracted-driving laws.
 Eric Heitmann, director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, pointed out that New Jersey is one of only four states nationally (along with Maine, Connecticut, and Oregon) to qualify for and receive dedicated federal grant funding to combat distracted driving.  
“This is clearly one of the most critical traffic safety issues that we face today,” Heitmann stated. “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2016 alone, 3,450 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 53 percent of the state’s crashes in 2016. 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).
Distracted driving is an activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving.  All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety.  
The types of distractions include:
    Texting
    Using a Cell phone or Smart phone
    Eating and Drinking
    Talking to passengers
    Grooming
    Reading, including Maps
    Using a Navigation System
    Watching a Video
    Adjusting a Radio or other Music device
But, because text messaging requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver, it is by far the most alarming distraction.
“We can’t say it enough: distracted driving is a life or death issue,” stated Chief William Mastriana. “What people need to understand is how dangerous it is to take your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, and concentration off the task of driving safely. It only takes a few seconds for a child to run into the street or for you to drive through a red light or stop sign and crash, potentially killing someone or yourself. That’s why during April, you will see an increased police presence on the roadways, and anyone who is caught texting and driving, will pay.”