Burlington County Sheriff To Crack Down On Distracted Driving

The Burlington County Sheriff’s Department will crack down on distracted driving in April. The sheriff’s department will participate in New Jersey's "UDrive. UText. UPay." enforcement campaign from April 1-21.

“The County Sheriff’s Department is proud to join forces with local law enforcement agencies in the community to once again support this crucial initiative,” Chief Michael Ditzel said. “Each year it becomes increasingly important to crack down on distracted driving. Our department is committed to keeping Burlington County’s roads safe for everyone from drivers, pedestrians and its residents.”

New Jersey is one of four states nationally to qualify for and receive dedicated federal grant funding to combat distracted driving, according to New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety Director Eric Heitmann.

"This is clearly one of the most critical traffic safety issues that we face today," Heitmann said. "The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2016 alone, 3,450 people were killed in distracted driving crashes and an estimated 391,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver."

In New Jersey, driver inattention was listed as a contributing circumstance in 53 percent of the state's crashes in 2016, police said. It was listed as a contributing factor in crashes at a rate nine times higher than that of the next highest contributing factor, which was speed.

"The campaign is being carried out during the month of April, which the National Safety Council has designated as Distracted Driving Awareness Month," police said. "The New Jersey campaign is modeled after similar successful high visibility enforcement programs such as Click It or Ticket and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over."