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Distracted Driving

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NJ Student Drivers Need More Practice Hours Under New Law NJ Student Drivers Need More Practice Hours Under New Law
NJ Student Drivers Need More Practice Hours Under New Law A new law will require student drivers in New Jersey to spend more time learning behind the wheel before they can get a license. Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill on Monday, Jan. 8, that requires student drivers 21 years old and under to spend at least 50 practice hours with an adult. The law also requires at least ten hours to be completed at night. Parents or other adults must certify the practice driving hours were completed. The new law also requires a sample driving log to be included in informational brochures given to parents or adults of student drivers under 18. The New Jer…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Drunken NJ Driver Admits Snapchatting At 156 MPH Before Fiery Wreck That Killed College Student Drunken NJ Driver Admits Snapchatting At 156 MPH Before Fiery Wreck That Killed College Student
Drunken NJ Driver Admits Snapchatting At 156 MPH Before Fiery Wreck That Killed College Student More than a year after a New York college student was killed in a fiery, drunk-driving crash in the region, the man responsible has formally confessed. Vasu Laroiya, 24, of Iselin, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide in Albany County Court on Tuesday, Nov. 28, in the death of Katie Fisher. Laroiya admitted that he was Snapchatting while driving drunk at 156 miles per hour on I-87 in Colonie when he struck Fisher’s Honda Civic on the night of May 28, 2022. Fisher, a 22-year-old junior at the University at Albany, then struck a guardrail on the eastern shoulder, causing her car t…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Wayne Driver Lighting Cigarette Causes Head-On Crash In Oakland: Police Wayne Driver Lighting Cigarette Causes Head-On Crash In Oakland: Police
Wayne Driver Lighting Cigarette Causes Head-On Crash In Oakland: Police Two drivers from Wayne were injured in a head-on crash that Oakland police said was caused when one of them tried to light a cigarette. The distracted 58-year-old smoker crossed the double-yellow line on Ramapo Valley Road, where her KIA slammed into a Honda Pilot driven by a 65-year-old township woman in front of the Oakland Diner, Capt. Timothy Keenan said. The smoker was extricated by firefighters because the front fender of the KIA had been pushed into the driver's side door, jamming it shut, Keenan said. She'd also complained of chest pains, he said. The woman was taken to St. Joseph…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Police: Driver On Cell In Wrong-Way Crash That Wrecked SUVs, Toppled Pole In Hasbrouck Heights Police: Driver On Cell In Wrong-Way Crash That Wrecked SUVs, Toppled Pole In Hasbrouck Heights
Police: Driver On Cell In Wrong-Way Crash That Wrecked SUVs, Toppled Pole In Hasbrouck Heights A utility pole got knocked down outside a Hasbrouck Heights barber shop on Friday after a Jeep whose driver was on his cellphone drifted into oncoming traffic, authorities said. The 28-year-old Jeep driver from Garfield was distracted when the right front fender of his southbound Jeep struck the right front fender of a northbound SUV on Terrace Avenue just past Cleveland Avenue, Detective Lt. Michael Colaneri Jr. said. The Jeep continued onto the opposite sidewalk, toppling the pole, he said. An ambulance responded, but neither the Garfield driver nor the other motorist, a 65-year-old boro…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Prosecutor: Fair Lawn Personal Trainer Was Using Phone When He Hit Motorcyclist On Route 17 Prosecutor: Fair Lawn Personal Trainer Was Using Phone When He Hit Motorcyclist On Route 17
Prosecutor: Fair Lawn Personal Trainer Was Using Phone When He Hit Motorcyclist On Route 17 A Fair Lawn personal trainer was charged with assault by auto after detectives discovered that he was using his handheld cellphone when his car hit a motorcyclist and another vehicle on Route 17 near Route 202 in Mahwah. Ryan M. McMullen, 37, was released pending a Sept. 18 first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said Tuesday. McMullen “was using a handheld mobile device when he struck the 35-year-old motorcyclist from behind and then struck a third vehicle” around 4:45 p.m. Friday, the prosecutor said. The motorcyclist, wh…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Trucker Charged In Crash That Killed Jersey City Couple Headed To Own Wedding Trucker Charged In Crash That Killed Jersey City Couple Headed To Own Wedding
Trucker Charged In Crash That Killed Jersey City Couple Headed To Own Wedding Authorities say a truck driver from California was on his cell phone when he caused a chain-reaction crash on I-78 last year that claimed the lives of a couple headed to their wedding in western Pennsylvania, the Reading (Pa.) Eagle reported Wednesday. Jaspreet S. Chanal, 24, of Fresno, was charged this week with homicide by vehicle, careless driving resulting in death and other offenses. Chanal was traveling on I-78 near Windsor, Pa., on Nov. 14 when he passed signs advising motorists of road work ahead, according to authorities. Because he was distracted, Chahal crashed into the back of …

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by Paul Milo
Police & Fire
NO JOKE: Latest Distracted-Driver Crackdown Has Begun NO JOKE: Latest Distracted-Driver Crackdown Has Begun
NO Joke: Latest Distracted-Driver Crackdown Has Begun With driver inattention contributing to crashes in New Jersey at a rate nine times higher than speeding, local police are into another “UDrive. UText. UPay.” campaign. Officers on Monday, April 1, began targeting motorists who talk or text on hand-held cellphones while driving as part of a three-week crackdown aimed at reducing crashes. "This is clearly one of the most critical traffic safety issues that we face today," said Eric Heitmann, director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. "The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2016 alone, 3,450 peo…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
TEXTERS, BEWARE: Distracted-Driver Crackdown Starts Next Week TEXTERS, BEWARE: Distracted-Driver Crackdown Starts Next Week
Texters, Beware: Distracted-Driver Crackdown Starts Next Week With driver inattention contributing to crashes in New Jersey at a rate nine times higher than speeding, local police are amping up for another “UDrive. UText. UPay.” campaign. Beginning April 1, officers will target motorists who talk or text on hand-held cellphones while driving as part of a three-week crackdown aimed at reducing crashes. "This is clearly one of the most critical traffic safety issues that we face today," said Eric Heitmann, director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. "The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2016 alone, 3,450…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
PHOTOS: How Do Those Heroes Free People Trapped In Cars? Ramsey Rescue Shows Youngsters PHOTOS: How Do Those Heroes Free People Trapped In Cars? Ramsey Rescue Shows Youngsters
Photos: How Do Those Heroes Free People Trapped In Cars? Ramsey Rescue Shows Youngsters Youngsters gasped as Ramsey Rescue members sawed off doors and roofs of vehicles during a pair of mock vehicle extrications over the weekend. Applause at ScoutFest erupted at one point as a roof was removed. As entertaining as it was, the demonstration at Darlington County Park in Mahwah was still “a sobering visual to these youngsters about the risks of distracted and impaired driving, which is deadly serious business,” Ramsey Rescue President Michael Yevchak said. Members also hope the event – which included tours of one of the heavy rescue trucks -- encourages youngsters and their paren…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Driver Reaching For Dropped Cell Phone Slams Van Into Waldwick Service Station, Police Charge Driver Reaching For Dropped Cell Phone Slams Van Into Waldwick Service Station, Police Charge
Driver Reaching For Dropped Cell Phone Slams Van Into Waldwick Service Station, Police Charge UPDATE: A driver reaching down to pick up his dropped cell phone sent a van crashing into a Waldwick service station Monday morning, knocking out a chunk of the building, police said. The driver, who wasn’t injured, received a summons for using his cell phone while driving, following the crash at Randy’s Auto Service on Crescent Avenue, Lt. Thomas J. Dowling said. The heating/air conditioning van “took out a section of wall that also housed the shut off switches to the gas pumps,” Dowling said. “The gas pumps shut down immediately with the crash.” Waldwick firefighters worked to stabilize …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Scared Straight? Hackensack Prom Season Off To Serious Start Scared Straight? Hackensack Prom Season Off To Serious Start
Scared Straight? Hackensack Prom Season Off To Serious Start Students gathered outside of Hackensack High School early Tuesday for the annual demonstration by emergency responders of what could happen in a deadly prom-time crash -- only this year there was a twist. "The message we want kids to get is: Besides impaired driving, distracted driving is also dangerous," said Iris Koonan, a student assistance counselor. Each year, city firefighters, police, EMS and other responders show the students the consequences of drunk driving. Tuesday morning's "crash," however, occurred when youngsters on the way to their prom looked up to take…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Guess How Many Tickets SoHackensack PD Wrote In Distracted Driver Crackdown Guess How Many Tickets SoHackensack PD Wrote In Distracted Driver Crackdown
Guess How Many Tickets SoHackensack PD Wrote In Distracted Driver Crackdown South Hackensack police may not have one of Bergen County’s biggest departments, but they pick off plenty of offenders passing through. Thanks primarily to the efforts of a 14-member patrol unit, township officers wrote 539 traffic summonses during last month’s annual three-week distracted driving campaign, Capt. Robert Kaiser said. They also made 13 arrests – including a suspect with a loaded 9mm handgun in the car, others carrying heroin and marijuana and several defendants who skipped court elsewhere, Kaiser said. With driver inattention contributing to crashes in New Jersey at a rate n…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Guess How Many Tickets Fairview PD Wrote In Distracted Driver Crackdown Guess How Many Tickets Fairview PD Wrote In Distracted Driver Crackdown
Guess How Many Tickets Fairview PD Wrote In Distracted Driver Crackdown FAIRVIEW, N.J. – Forgive any Fairview police officer who suffers writer's cramp: The borough's finest wrote a staggering 694 tickets during last month's annual three-week distracted driving campaign, Police Chief Martin Kahn said. That comes to 33 a day -- a little over seven PER HOUR. Of those, the chief said, 409 went to motorists caught using handheld cellphones behind the wheel. There were also four DWI arrests, he said. "With Fairview being one of the most densely populated boroughs in Bergen County, traffic safety has to be one of our highest priorities," Kahn said. "…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Guess How Many Tickets Glen Rock PD Wrote In Distracted Driver Crackdown Guess How Many Tickets Glen Rock PD Wrote In Distracted Driver Crackdown
Guess How Many Tickets Glen Rock PD Wrote In Distracted Driver Crackdown GLEN ROCK, N.J. – Last month’s annual distracted driver crackdown produced the results that Glen Rock police hoped for, along with some other benefits. Using stationary details and roving patrols, Glen Rock's finest wrote a whopping 376 tickets in three weeks (not a misprint), Police Chief Dean Ackermann said. During the same time period, officers also made five DWI arrests and issued 270 warnings, the chief said. With driver inattention contributing to crashes in New Jersey at a rate nine times higher than speed, the annual statewide “UDrive. UText. UPay.” Spring campaign has continued to…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Guess How Many Tickets USR Police Wrote In Distracted Driver Crackdown Guess How Many Tickets USR Police Wrote In Distracted Driver Crackdown
Guess How Many Tickets USR Police Wrote In Distracted Driver Crackdown UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J. – This month’s annual distracted driver crackdown produced the results that Upper Saddle River police hoped for, along with some other benefits. Using stationary details and roving patrols, USR police wrote 224 tickets in three weeks (not a misprint), Police Chief Patrick Rotella said. During the same time period, officers also arrested 13 drivers who were either under the influence or carrying drugs, the chief said. With driver inattention contributing to crashes in New Jersey at a rate nine times higher than speed, the annual statewide “UDrive. UText. UPay.” Spri…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Lifestyle
Biggest Danger On Roads Is Now Distracted Driving, AAA Says Biggest Danger On Roads Is Now Distracted Driving, AAA Says
Biggest Danger On Roads Is Now Distracted Driving, AAA Says Distracted, not drunk, drugged or aggressive drivers are the biggest cause of concern for motorists, according to a survey conducted by AAA. According to a study released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety this week, distracted driving has reached the top of the list of growing dangers on local roadways, surpassing aggressive or impaired drivers. The study states that 88 percent of drivers contend that distracted driving is on the rise, a 30 percent increase in just five years. The release of the report comes as several local law enforcement agencies announce their intentions to ramp …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Effort Underway To Save Lives On I-95 Effort Underway To Save Lives On I-95
Effort Underway To Save Lives On I-95 Law enforcement agencies up and down the east coast are teaming to protect motorists on I-95 as part of the National Drive to Save Lives Campaign. State police agencies from 15 east coast states - including New York and Connecticut - are teaming in an effort to “keep one of the country’s most highly-traveled interstates, I-95 safe and fatality-free" Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21. There will be an increased police presence on the interstate during the two-day detailed effort, with officers and troopers focusing on seat belt violations, safety restraint use, speeding, impaired …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Here's An Advertisement: Distracted Driver Rams Fair Lawn Police Car Here's An Advertisement: Distracted Driver Rams Fair Lawn Police Car
Here's An Advertisement: Distracted Driver Rams Fair Lawn Police Car FAIR LAWN, N.J. -- National Distracted Driver Awareness Month couldn't have gotten better publicity: A motorist rammed his Jeep into a Fair Lawn police car after running a stop sign while using his cellphone for directions, authorities said. Officer Luis Vazquez emerged with a sore neck after his SUV was rammed by a 2017 Jeep Cherokee driven by Hani Chenouda, 41, of West Orange, at the corner of Willow Street and Kenneth Avenue, authorities said. Chenouda admitted "he was using his cellphone for directions, holding it in his right hand, when he went through the stop sign" on eastb…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
TEXTERS, BEWARE: NJ Police On Lookout For Distracted Drivers TEXTERS, BEWARE: NJ Police On Lookout For Distracted Drivers
Texters, Beware: NJ Police On Lookout For Distracted Drivers With driver inattention contributing to crashes in New Jersey at a rate nine times higher than speed, local police are amping up for another “UDrive. UText. UPay.” campaign. Beginning April 1, officers will target motorists who talk or text on hand-held cellphones while driving as part of a three-week crackdown aimed at reducing crashes. “Distracted driving is possibly the most serious safety issue on our roadways today,” said Gary Poedubicky, Acting Director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. "The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 20…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Westwood Crash: Pickup Versus Sedan Westwood Crash: Pickup Versus Sedan
Westwood Crash: Pickup Versus Sedan WESTWOOD, N.J. -- A sedan got the worst of it Thursday afternoon after colliding head-on with a pickup truck in Westwood. The sedan driver had an apparent arm injury otherwise wasn't seriously injured in the 1 p.m. crash outside Becker Funeral Home on Kinderkamack Road. The pickup driver appeared OK. ****** ALSO SEE:  TEXTERS, BEWARE: With driver inattention contributing to crashes in New Jersey at a rate nine times higher than speed, local police are amping up for another “UDrive. UText. UPay.” campaign. https://hackensack.dailyvoice.com/police-fire/texters-beware-nj-police-on-lookout-…

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by Jerry DeMarco