Crime & Safety

Bridgewater Police Department Receives $5,000 Grants For 'U Drive. U Text. U Pay' Program

The Division of Highway Traffic Safety is providing sixty police departments, including ten from Somerset County, each with a $5,000 grant as part of their $300,000-campaign aimed at a statewide crack down on distracted driving.

According to a press release from the Office of the Attorney General, the campaign called “U Drive. U Text. U Pay.” is part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's nationwide effort against distracted driving.

“Distracted driving is without a doubt a major threat to everyone on or near the road in New Jersey,” said Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman in the press release. “Drivers should be focused on one task: driving. Texting, talking or playing games on a smart phone are an unwelcome and unsafe distraction. The dangers of driver inattention are staggering, placing drivers, passengers and pedestrians alike in harm’s way. This initiative is a needed boost to law enforcement, whose presence on the road positively impacts the driving behaviors of the public.”

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The press release states that unfunded police departments will also be participating in the program which coincides with Distracted Driving Awareness Month and is set to run from April 1 to April 21.

See the full list of participating agencies here

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