Woodbridge Twp. Starts Texting and Driving Crackdown April 1

WOODBRIDGE, NJ - Be warned: Starting April 1, and continuing through the entire month of April, Woodbridge police will be looking for drivers texting, talking on their cell phones or other forms of distracted driving.

“Beginning April 1 and running through April 21, WPD Traffic Enforcement Officers will participate in the statewide high visibility law enforcement initiative and will target motorists who engage in dangerous distracted driving behaviors such as talking on hand-held cell phones and sending text messages while driving,” said Police Director Robert Hubner.

Woodbridge police will participate in the statewide “UDrive. UText. UPay.” Distracted Driver Traffic enforcement campaign during the month of April.

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.

Despite the fact that using a hand-held cell phone or texting while driving is illegal in New Jersey, the practice appears to be widespread. In a recent survey conducted by the FDU Public Mind Poll for the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, 67 percent of respondents said they “very often” see people driving and talking on a hand held cell phone. 42 percent of respondents said they “very often” see driver’s texting.