NEW JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — April is distracted driving awareness month and police in New Jersey are increasing patrols to crack down on the issue.
It’s part of the national campaign U Drive. U Text. U Pay, which runs through April 30. Funding for this initiative comes from the New Jersey Attorney General’s division of Highway Traffic Safety. The division will provide $1.2 million to 182 law enforcement agencies in the state to increase patrols and have a visible presence on the roads.
Many towns in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties are participating in the program.
“The overarching purpose of this distracted driving awareness month and enforcement is not to go out and issue tickets, it’s to ask people to be mindful of distractions in general,” said Mike Rizol, director of the Attorney General’s division of Highway Traffic Safety.
He says he wants people to think, “Is it worth it?” before picking up their phones while driving.
Attorney General Matthew Platkin says 49% of accidents in 2022 involved a distracted driver, resulting in 180 deaths and more than 1,500 serious injuries. Texting was one of the most common violations.
A first offense comes with fines between $200 and $400, and up to $800 for subsequent violations.
Last year, this initiative yielded more than 7,000 citations for cell phone use while driving.