Across the country, many institutions will be promoting safe driving during April, which is National Distracted Driving Awareness month. The spotlight on this issue may not be brighter anywhere other than one New Jersey town, which is working to curb certain activities that put people in danger on the roads each day.
Police in the township of Roxbury, located northwest of Newark, will be working hard to target distracted drivers – including teenagers — over the next month. In particular, local police are working with numerous community stakeholders to promote awareness and reduce distracted driving. For example, the police are working with local schools on programs such as “Alive at 25” and “Every 15 minutes” while sending a letter to parents suggesting a frank discussion about safe driving habits. In addition, the Police Chief is spreading the word that smartphone apps exist to help parents and teen drivers avoid the practice of texting and driving.
The Center for Disease Control notes that across the country, over nine people die on average each day, with over 1,000 injured, in crashes linked to a distracted driver. Unfortunately, the CDC also warns that young drivers aged 16-19 are more likely to take risks and be distracted while in vehicles. One of the big problems is texting while driving, which is a problem with older drivers as well. The township will be using extra patrols to target distracted drivers.
A car accident can occur for any number of reasons, but all too often the cause is something that could have been avoided, such as distracted driving. Educational programs are great for reducing future conduct, but for those who are suffering now due to an accident caused by such reckless conduct, knowing the options to cover compensation can be an important first step on the road to recovery.
Source: Roxbury Register, “Roxbury police to target ‘distracted drivers’ in April,” March 28, 2014
