Opinion
April is Distracted DrivingAwareness Month across the country, and law enforcement officers from the Livingston Police Department will be participating in a statewide crackdown on the issue. New Jersey’s “Put the Phone Away or Pay” enforcement campaign runs through April 30. 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. The state is one of eight nationwide to receive federal funding to facilitate the program.
Simply put, driving while distracted is anything that takes a driver’s attention away from the road. Specifically, there are three types of distractions: physical – when a driver takes their hands off the wheel; visual – when a driver looks at a passenger or the navigation screen; and cognitive – when a driver is lost or deep in thought.
The most common example is using a cell phone while driving. This includes holding the phone, texting, or using any of a phone’s apps. However, it could also include several other things. For example, it could be adjusting the heating or cooling system, or looking down at the coffee that dripped onto your seat. Moreover, it can include looking at a navigation system or switching the radio station. In some cases, it can be having a conversation with the passenger in your car.
Driver inattention has remained the most frequently cited cause of fatal and incapacitating crashes in New Jersey, contributing to nearly 50 percent of all crashes statewide.
According to Livingston Police Chief Gary Marshuetz, there were a total of 6,041 crashes reported to the department over the last five years. That is an average of 1,208 crashes per year among the estimated 35 million vehicles that travel through Livingston annually.
So, it is important to remember that this crackdown is not simply a fine generator, but one that is intended to save lives. Enforcing these distracted driving laws will keep Livingston’s roads safe by reducing crashes, injuries, and fatalities. Officers will be highly visible during these patrols, so residents who are attentive while driving have nothing to worry about. Just put the phone away when you are behind the wheel – for your sake, and everyone around you.
