By: Richard L. Smith
To combat the growing menace of distracted driving, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, together with the Division of Highway Traffic Safety (HTS), has unveiled the "U Drive. U Text. U Pay." campaign.
This statewide initiative, which runs from April 1 to April 30, aims to tighten the enforcement of laws against texting and other distractions while driving.
Accompanying the enforcement surge is a comprehensive public awareness campaign designed to highlight the perils and penalties associated with distracted driving.
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State officials said recent statistics paint a worrying picture, revealing that nearly half of the drivers involved in New Jersey crashes in 2022 were distracted, leading to 180 deaths and over 1,500 severe injuries.
Attorney General Platkin stressed the importance of undivided attention while driving, noting that the initiative seeks to remind motorists of the dire consequences of neglecting this responsibility.
“Our public awareness campaign and increased enforcement efforts against distracted driving help ensure that drivers keep their attention on the road and off their phones," -AG Platkin.
Michael J. Rizol, Jr., Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the critical need for drivers to remain vigilant at all times.
The HTS is spearheading the drive to educate the public on the risks of distracted driving, in addition to providing law enforcement agencies with the resources necessary to tackle the issue head-on.
As part of the enforcement push, HTS has allocated over $1.2 million in grants to 182 law enforcement agencies across 20 counties.
These funds are earmarked for saturation patrols aimed at identifying and penalizing distracted drivers, particularly those who text or talk on handheld devices while driving.
New Jersey law strictly prohibits using handheld electronic devices while driving. Fines for violations range from $200 to $400 for a first offense and up to $800 for repeat offenders, and three insurance points are added.
The campaign's urgency is underscored by the results of the previous year's enforcement efforts, which resulted in 7,130 citations for cell phone use or texting and nearly 4,001 for careless driving.
"Working together, we can help make roadways across New Jersey safer," AG Platkinn said.
As the "U Drive. U Text. U Pay." campaign gets underway, New Jersey officials hope increased enforcement and heightened public awareness will significantly reduce distracted driving incidents, making the state's roads safer for everyone.