Secaucus Police Launch April Distracted Driving Campaign

SECAUCUS, NJ — Secaucus Police will specifically be looking for distracted drivers this April as part of New Jersey’s UDrive. UText. UPay. enforcement campaign.

Beginning April 1 and running through the end of the month, this high-visibility law enforcement initiative will target drivers who engage in distracted driving behaviors such as talking on hand-held cell phones and sending text messages while driving.

In New Jersey, driver inattention was listed as a contributing circumstance in 50 percent of the state’s crashes in 2018. In fact, driver inattention was listed as a contributing factor in crashes at a rate seven times higher than that of the next highest contributing factor (speed).

Distracted driving is defined as any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system — anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.

Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for five seconds. At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.