Millburn Police Will Crack Down On Distracted Drivers

MILLBURN, NJ — The town of Millburn announced this week that police will be on the lookout for distracted drivers throughout April. In 2018, 2,841 people were killed in distracted driving crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

People have shared stories for years about losing a child, a parent, or other loved ones because someone used the phone or posted on social media while driving. One grieving mom has a sign on her car that says, "I lost my son to texting while driving. W8 2 TXT."

Beginning April 1, police will target motorists who engage in dangerous distracted driving behaviors such as talking on hand-held cell phones and sending text messages while driving.

In 2018, driver inattention was listed as a contributing circumstance in 50 percent of crashes in New Jersey — seven times as often as speed.

Distracted driving is defined as any activity that diverts the attention of a driver from the task of safe driving, such as talking or texting on a mobile phone, eating and drinking, talking to other passengers, or fiddling with the stereo, entertainment, or navigation system.

Sending or reading a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for approximately five seconds. At 55 miles per hour, it's like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed, authorities say.

New Jersey is one of eight states to receive dedicated federal funds this year to tackle the issue of driver distraction.

Federal funds will be used for police overtime enforcement grants at the local level as well as a statewide multimedia public awareness campaign, “UDrive. UText. UPay."

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