Distracted Driving Will Be Focus Of Manalapan Enforcement In April

MANALAPAN, NJ — If you still talk on a hand-held phone or even try to text while driving, expect to get close police attention this coming month.

Manalapan police will be cracking down on distracted drivers during April as part of New Jersey's " UDrive. UText. UPay" enforcement campaign, the department said.

The statewide initiative begins April 1 and runs through the end of the month.

The extra enforcement will target motorists who engage in "dangerous distracted driving behaviors," such as talking on hand-held cell phones and sending text messages while driving, police said.

And the focus on safer driving is for everyone's benefit.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that from 2011 to 2020, 32,000 people were killed in distracted driving-related crashes on the nation's roads, the Manalapan Police Department said, referring to national and state statistics.

Driver inattention has remained the most frequently cited cause of fatal and incapacitating crashes in New Jersey, contributing to 50 percent of crashes from 2016 to 2020.

Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.

Drivers are urged to put their phones away when behind the wheel. Follow these steps for a safe driving experience:

• If you are expecting a text message or need to send one, pull over and park your car in a safe location. Once you are safely off the road and parked, it is safe to text.
• Ask your passenger to be your "designated texter." Allow them access to your phone to respond to calls or messages.
• Do not engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving.
• Cell phone use is habit-forming. Struggling to not text and drive? Activate your phone's "Do Not Disturb" feature, or put your phone in the trunk, glove box, or back seat of your vehicle until you arrive at your destination.