Police Launch Zero-Tolerance Week for Distracted Driving

Mayor Jay Gillian declared April 15 to 21 as Distracted Driving Awareness Week, and the Ocean City Police Department will be conducting a zero-tolerance campaign throughout the city, while teaching young drivers about the dangers of not paying full attention to the road.

Throughout the week, Ocean City police will select an area of focus for enforcement each day, according to Capt. Steven Ang.

The police want to emphasize that all distractions endanger driver, passenger and pedestrian safety, including:

• Texting
• Using a cell phone or smartphone
• Eating and drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Grooming
• Reading — including maps
• Using a navigation system
• Watching a video
• Adjusting a radio, CD or MP3 player

"It is our hope that the citizens and guests of Ocean City will become more aware of the dangers of distracted driving and choose to participate by compliance, making the streets of Ocean City and New Jersey safer," Ang said in a news release

The police department will also sponsor an assembly for Ocean City High School juniors and seniors on Tuesday, April 17. The event will be co-sponsored by Joel Feldman, the father of Casey Feldman, a pedestrian who died in Ocean City in 2009 in a crash involving a distracted driver.