5/5/2017 - Burlington Twp. Police Department and Burlington Twp. School District Team Up to Curb Distracted Driving
BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP, NJ - Public Safety Director Bruce Painter is pleased to announce that the Burlington Township Police Department will be partnering with the Burlington Township School District to bring UNITE’s Arrive Alive Tour® program to students at the Burlington Township High School on May 9, 2017.
• UNITE’s Arrive Alive Tour® program uses a high-tech simulator, impact video, and a number of other resources to educate the public about the dangers of texting while driving and intoxicated driving. The simulator allows participants to experience the potential consequences of impaired and distracted driving in a controlled environment.
• One of the most commonly recognized driving distractions is cell phone use. About 89 percent of all Americans have a cell phone, according to CTIA – The Wireless Association. Drivers under 20 years old have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Their lack of driving experience can contribute to critical misjudgments if they become distracted. Not surprisingly, they text more than any other age group, and the number of young drivers who text is only increasing.
• UNITE brings health and wellness programs to high schools, colleges, and communities across the nation. Its programs are designed to heighten awareness to the dangers and consequences of impaired and distracted driving. These events have a powerful impact on students to reinforce the subjects that schools and parents teach them daily.
This cooperative initiative comes on the heels of BTPD’s recent participation in the “U Drive, U Text, U Pay” campaign during April, 2017. During that high visibility enforcement operation, officers dedicated 100 hours of patrol time focusing on distracted driving enforcement. Over the course of 189 motor vehicle stops, the officers issued 46 cell phone/texting summonses, 12 speeding summonses, 8 seat belt summonses, 6 suspended driver summonses, 1 careless driving summons, and 83 miscellaneous violation summonses for a grand total of 156 motor vehicle summonses. In addition, officers made one warrant arrest.
The Arrive Alive Tour® event is being funded via a grant from the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (GCADA).