Motorists talking on phones, texting or engrossed by complicated infotainment systems while driving are more than an annoyance – they can be downright deadly.
Distracted driving was the leading cause of fatal crashes in New Jersey in 2018, more than speeding and driving while intoxicated.
A State Police fatal crash analysis found 146 crashes were because of driver inattention, 143 were caused by driver intoxication and 53 because of unsafe speed in 2018. This is the eighth straight year that the analysis found distracted driving was the leading cause of fatal crashes in New Jersey.
The slightly good news is that total is down from 196 crashes in 2017.
Unsafe speed was also down from 61 crashes in 2017 to 53 in 2018. Experts attribute enforcement efforts such as “U Text, U Drive, U Pay” and education campaigns run by the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety and the state Motor Vehicle Commission for some of the improvements in 2018.
According to state Department of…
