TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden and Donald Norcross to create a task force to address the epidemic of drivers engaged in dangerous and potentially lethal distractions behind the wheel was approved today by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee. The legislation is the latest in a series of measures legislators have worked on in Trenton to reduce motor vehicle related injuries and deaths resulting from activities such as texting and talking without a hands-free device while driving.
“We have done extensive work to strengthen our laws and penalties related to distracted driving, but it is clear that we have to do more. Far too many people continue to use their electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle and tragedies continue to occur each day,” said Senator Madden (D-Gloucester/Camden). “We have to attack this issue on a number of fronts. While we must ensure that we have tough penalties for violations of the law, we must also find ways to prevent these activities and to educate drivers about the risks involved with texting and talking while behind the wheel.”
“Even with the number of deaths and injuries that have occurred as a result of distracted driving, we still see people on our roadways texting and talking while driving. This has to stop,” said Senator Norcross (D-Camden/Gloucester). “The distracted driving task force will study this very serious problem, but also look at a host of other distractions that are creating dangerous driving conditions in our state.”