Sparta Police Crack Down On Distracted Driving

SPARTA, NJ— It might seem harmless to send a quick text or glance down to change the song on your phone, but Sparta Police are cracking down on distracted driving caused by cell phone use.

Starting April 1, the Sparta PD will target drivers who use their cell phones while driving, as part of New Jersey's UDrive, UText, UPay campaign.

"Remember to stay off your phone while driving and even holding your phone while on speaker is considered a violation of the 'Hands Free' cell phone use statute," police said in a statement.

Using a handheld cellphone for anything is illegal in New Jersey, but it hasn't curbed drivers habits. A poll by Fairleigh Dickinson University found that 67 percent of drivers see others talking on handheld phones behind the wheel very often, and 42 percent see others texting very often.

Sparta Police shared some other types of distracted driving to avoid:

• 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

“Distracted driving is a serious issue on our roadways,” said Gary Poedubicky, Acting Director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. "The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2014 alone, 3,179 people were killed in distracted driving crashes and an estimated 431,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver.”

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