The Hudson County Sheriff’s Office has received a $40,000 grant to begin a crackdown on distracted drivers next month, with the program scheduled to run through the summer.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“This is the third year we have received this $40,000 grant and my office will continue to crackdown on distracted drivers throughout Hudson County,†Sheriff Frank Schillari said in a statement.
He added that the grant the sheriff’s office received differs from that of most departments in the state: the Udrive, Utext, Upay grant money typically runs from April 1 to April 21.
However, the sheriff’s Office grant runs from April 1st until September 30th.
“Having this grant allows me to put extra cops out on the street to focus on all forms of distracted driving. Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving,” he added.
” … Distracted driving kills. The friends, family, and neighbors of the thousands of people killed nationwide each year in distracted driving crashes will tell you it is a very serious safety problem. The nearly half a million people injured each year will agree.”
Between 2011 and 2015, distracted driving contributed to 804,000 motor vehicle crashes in New Jersey, Schillari said, also stating that behavior led to 3,450 fatal crashes nationwide.
Some things that may distract driver’s besides texting include eating and drinking, talking to passengers, grooming, reading (including maps), using a navigation system, watching a video, and adjusting a radio, CD or MP3 player.
