New Jersey Mobilizes Over $1.2 Million to Curb Distracted Driving in April

"U Drive. U Text. U Pay." Initiative Seeks to Enhance Road Safety Through Enforcement and Awareness

MORRISTOWN, N.J. – Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Highway Traffic Safety (HTS) are spearheading a campaign to clamp down on distracted driving across New Jersey. 

The "U Drive. U Text. U Pay." initiative, running from April 1 to April 30, combines rigorous law enforcement with a public awareness drive to educate motorists about the perils of distracted driving. This effort is supported by over $1.2 million in funding allocated to law enforcement agencies statewide to enforce texting and driving laws vigorously.

Disturbingly, preliminary data from 2022 indicates that 49 percent of drivers involved in New Jersey road crashes were distracted, leading to 180 fatalities and more than 1,500 serious injuries. These stark numbers underline the critical need for the campaign's dual focus on enforcement and education.

Attorney General Platkin emphasized the importance of driver focus, stating, “Staying focused behind the wheel from the moment you step into your car is crucial in preventing a possible tragedy. 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. Working together, we can help make roadways across New Jersey safer.”

Michael J. Rizol, Jr., Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, “Every second behind the wheel demands a driver’s full attention."

To further the reach of the "U Drive. U Text. U Pay." campaign, HTS has distributed over $1.2 million in grants to 182 law enforcement agencies across 20 counties. These funds are earmarked for saturation patrols specifically targeting distracted driving behaviors, including texting or talking on the phone while driving.

In New Jersey, it's illegal to use a handheld electronic device while driving, with penalties for violating this law ranging from $200 to $400 for a first offense, and up to $800 for repeated violations, along with three insurance points.

Reflecting on the impact of last year's distracted driving mobilization, which resulted in 7,130 citations for cell phone use or texting and nearly 4,001 for careless driving, the initiative underscores New Jersey's commitment to improving road safety through proactive measures.

A breakdown of funding allocations in Morris County shows significant investments in various towns, including Butler, Dover, Hanover, Jefferson, Mount Olive, Parsippany-Troy Hills, and Randolph, demonstrating a wide-reaching effort to combat distracted driving throughout the state.

For more detailed information about the Division of Highway Traffic Safety and their ongoing traffic safety initiatives, please visit njsaferoads.com.