Full Notification

Public Safety Director Bruce Painter has announced that the Burlington Township Police Department will be participating in the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety 2017 Distracted Driving Crackdown “U Drive, U Text, U Pay”. Between the dates of April 1, 2017 and April 21, 2017, officers will be increasing enforcement efforts as part of a statewide high visibility campaign aimed at reducing the amount of distracted driver-related motor vehicle crashes.

According to the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, driver inattention is a dangerous epidemic that remains the most significant cause of fatal and incapacitating crashes. Driver inattention has been a contributing factor in nearly 800,000 motor vehicle crashes in the state from 2010 to 2014. Nationwide, 3,179 people were killed in distracted driving crashes in 2014 alone. The statistics regarding cell phone use while driving are particularly troubling. At any given daylight moment in the country, approximately 660,000 thousand people are using their cell phone while behind the wheel. In the average month, more than 150 billion text messages are sent in the U.S., many by drivers.

Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety. These types of distractions include:

• Texting (by far the most alarming distraction due to the visual, manual and cognitive attention required by the driver)
• Using a cell phone or smartphone
• Eating and drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Grooming
• Reading, including maps
• Using a navigation system
• Watching a video
• Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player

The Burlington Township Police Department urges motorists to:

• Turn off electronic devices and put them out of reach before starting to drive.
• Be good role models for young drivers and set a good example. Talk with your teens about responsible driving.
• Speak up when you are a passenger and your driver uses an electronic device while driving. Offer to make the call or text for the driver, so his or her full attention stays on the driving task.
• Always wear your seat belt. Seat belts are the best defense against other unsafe drivers.