Madison Police Crack Down On Distracted Driving

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

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

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.

“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.”

The campaign runs through April 21st.

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