Prosecutor: Put Down Those Cell Phones While Driving!

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and the Somerset County prosecutor's office is announcing the beginning of 'Put It Down 2013,' an effort to combat distracted driving; specifically focusing on drivers who break New Jersey's laws on the matter.

In 2012, 44% of the reported 11,000+ crashes in Somerset County were caused by "driver inattention". If driving while texting, you are 23 more times more likely to be involved in a crash, & 4 times more likely of driving while talking on a hand-held phone. Last year, warnings were given, but now, drivers will receive a summons & complaint.

It's not just phones: other careless behavior such as eating, drinking, reading & grooming are being discouraged as well. Drivers are being urged to safely pull over to engage in any of these actions.