Published on April 04, 2017

Mayor Janice S. Mironov announced that East Windsor Township has kicked off a pro-active Distracted Driver Campaign, to run through April 21, underwritten by a $5,500 NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety grant as part of a statewide initiative.  The “U Drive, U Text, U Pay” grant is for targeted enforcement of distracted driving behaviors, such as texting, holding a cell phone, grooming, reading, and using other electronic devices while driving.

According to Mayor Mironov, “This initiative is geared to promote the responsible operation of motor vehicles for everyone through increased public awareness, education, and enforcement of existing state distracted driving laws.  Motorists should give their full attention to the roadway while driving and do their part to help keep our roadways safer for all drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.  Distracted behavior as texting and hand held smartphones is a general concern in our communities but especially among younger less experienced drivers.”

The program is intended to educate motorists about the dangers of distracted driving, provide increased public awareness of this important issue, and conduct enforcement activities during the grant period.  Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary talk of driving.  According to the Division of NJ Highway Traffic Safety, distracted driving is a contributing factor in over 817,000 motor vehicle crashes in New Jersey from 20101 to 2014.  In 2015 alone, there were 3,477 lives lost and 391,000 injuries nationally involving distracted driving.

The Division of NJHTS, while expressing concern over all distracted behavior, notes that texting, which requires visual, manual and cognitive attention from the driver, is by far the most alarming activity.  Five seconds is the average time a driver’s eyes are off the road while texting, enough time while travelling 55 m.p.h. to cover the length of a football field.  Additionally, it is the youngest and most inexperienced drivers that are most at risk, with 10% of all crashes involving drivers under the age of 20 attributable to distracted driving.   

East Windsor officials kick-off Distracted Driver Campaign to educate the public and discourage distracted behavior as texting and cell phone use while driving.  Pictured (from left to right) are:   Police Officer Michelle McCandrew;  Police Sergeant Jason Hart;  Mayor Janice S. Mironov;  Chief of Police James Geary, and Police Lieutenant Christopher Jackson.