Crime & Safety

Lakewood Police Set To Crack Down On Distracted Driving

The annual UDrive. UText. UPay. distracted driving enforcement campaign begins Friday.

LAKEWOOD, NJ — Lakewood police will be cracking down on distracted driving beginning Friday as part of the annual "UDrive. UText. UPay." enforcement, Police Chief Gregory Meyer announced.

The targeted enforcement begins Friday and will continue through April 30, part of the national campaign against distracted driving. Lakewood police will be conducting roving and stationary patrols looking for motorists who may be distracted, Meyer said.

"The Lakewood Police Department would like to remind all drivers that distracted driving is any activity that diverts a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving," Meyer said. "All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety."

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Distractions include texting, using a cell phone or smartphone; grooming; reading, including maps; using a navigation system; watching a video, and more.

"Because using a hand-held cell phone while driving to make calls or send text messages requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver, they are by far the most alarming distractions," Meyer said.

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