Wayne Police Crack Down on Texting While Driving During 'U Drive. U Text. U Pay.' Campaign

Officers from the Wayne Police Department will be cracking down on distracted drivers during the month of April as part of the national “U Drive. U Text. U Pay.” enforcement campaign, which combines intense enforcement of anti-texting laws with advertising and media outreach to let people know about the enforcement and convince them to obey the law.

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 cell phones and sending text messages while driving.

Despite the fact that using a cell phone or texting while driving is illegal in New Jersey, the practice appears to be widespread, according to the Wayne Police Department.

In a 2014 survey conducted by the FDU PublicMind Poll for the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, 68 percent of respondents said they “very often” see people driving and talking on a hand held cell phone, while 41 percent of respondents said they “very often” see driver’s texting.

Additionally, “the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2012 alone, 3,328 people were killed in distracted driving crashes and an estimated 421,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver,” said Gary Poedubicky, Acting Director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety.

The Division of Highway Traffic Safety awarded $5,000 to 38 police departments - including the Wayne Police Department - for the initiative, which will be carried out during National Distracted Driving Month.

The crackdown will end April 21.

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