In a dedicated effort to crack down on the persistent danger of texting behind the wheel, the Dunellen Borough Police Department took their traffic safety strategies to a new level. To catch motorists violating the state’s strict ban on holding cell phones while driving, one inventive officer fully committed to camouflage. Wearing a full sniper-style ghillie suit, the officer blended seamlessly into an extra-leafy tree situated right along one of the town’s busy main roads. Acting as an undercover spotter, this camouflaged cop kept close watch for anyone peering down at a screen instead of the road ahead.
Did It Work?
Dunellen Borough Police Department via Facebook
This unorthodox strategy proved to be incredibly effective. According to a Facebook update released by the Dunellen Borough Police, the operation resulted in a staggering 74 citations for distracted driving issued in just six hours – a concerning amount considering this was only over the period of six hours and executed on one street by a few officers. It also begs the question: what counts as distracted driving?
Considering cars are sold with screens larger than some televisions these days, is penalizing drivers for this justified? The answer is yes. While these theatrics might seem extreme, distracted driving remains a massive problem across the United States. Safety experts frequently point out that simply having anti-phone laws on the books is rarely enough to stop the dangerous behavior. Studies by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) consistently link smartphone use behind the wheel to significantly higher rates of rear-end collisions.
Should You Watch Out?
For drivers in New Jersey and everywhere else, it is much easier, and significantly safer, to simply put your smartphone down in the center console than to spend your entire daily commute staring suspiciously at every piece of roadside foliage. Follow the rules of the road, and drive safely.
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