Gov. Murphy, NJDOT encourage public to pay attention during Distracted Driving Awareness Month
NEW JERSEY – The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) warns about the dangers of distracted driving every month, citing human error as the leading cause of road fatalities. In April, the entire nation is urged to be even more vigilant behind the wheel during Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
This national effort, recently supported by a state proclamation from New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, promotes public awareness of attentive driving to protect motorists, passengers, road maintenance crews, construction workers, school crossing guards, emergency personnel, and law enforcement officers.
It is a shared responsibility to keep New Jersey’s roads safe.
Governor Murphy has been a leading advocate for safer roads, establishing the Target Zero Commission to reduce road fatalities and supporting two major NJDOT safe driving campaigns through social media and advertising.
NJDOT has enhanced safety efforts during the winter season, rebuilt many of the state’s most dangerous intersections, and implemented the globally recognized Safe System Approach to improve road design and emergency response times.
“My administration has taken action to ensure that fewer New Jersey families will have to suffer through a traffic fatality,” Gov. Murphy said. “My Target Zero Commission will forge a clear path to making sure everyone can travel safely in New Jersey, and the first and best way to do that is to make sure New Jersey drivers are not distracted when behind the wheel.”
“Distracted driving puts the lives of everyone at risk, whether they’re a driver, passenger, pedestrian road worker or first responder,” New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner and Chair of the Target Zero Commission Fran O’Connor said. “We need to create a culture in which distracted driving is no longer tolerated. No one should die because of a text.”
Safe driving practices include keeping eyes on the road and hands on the wheel, staying off mobile devices, using mirrors, and maintaining a safe following distance.
At 60 mph, a vehicle covers approximately 90 feet per second — about six car lengths. A momentary distraction, such as reaching for a snack or changing a podcast, can result in a serious crash if the vehicle ahead stops suddenly.
The Distracted Driving Awareness Month initiative also promotes New Jersey’s Move Over Law, which requires drivers to make room for emergency vehicles, tow trucks, and any vehicles stopped with flashing lights to reduce the risk of accidents involving roadside workers and first responders.
“Traffic deaths in New Jersey have been rising. Don’t become a statistic. Don’t drive distracted,” officials said.
