By Anne Levin

Blame it on the pandemic, but motorists in Princeton have gotten dangerously sloppy in their driving habits.

With fewer vehicles on the road to consider, things like rolling stop violations, speeding, and texting have increased to a point that has prompted the Princeton Police Department (PPD) to take action.

“Limit It” is a new initiative launched last month by the department’s Traffic Safety Bureau. The program invites Princeton residents to sign a pledge stating they will obey the posted speed limit, put down their cell phones, and resist other distractions while driving. Those who sign will be issued a “Limit It” magnet to affix to their vehicles.

Traffic accidents in Princeton rose by 65 percent between March and April of this year. “We had 29 accidents in March, and 48 in April,” said Sergeant Thomas R. Murray III, the PPD’s Traffic Safety Bureau supervisor. “Obviously, as the traffic safety officer here, that makes me a little concerned. We’ve always had issues with driver inattention, but this is unusual.”

Murray came up with “Limit It” as a response to the fact that some 80 percent of accidents are attributable to total driver inattention. “It isn’t just the phones. It’s all the electronics,” he said. “People are looking at the GPS, changing the radio station, texting, and making calls. Or maybe their coffee fell out of the cup holder.”

In a report about the initiative, Murray wrote, “Data has shown that reading a text and/or focusing on a GPS unit contained within the interior of a vehicle while traveling at 55 miles per hour is like driving the full length of a football field while blindfolded, an incredibly alarming fact to say the least.”

By asking drivers to sign a pledge, Murray hopes to encourage them to take responsibility for their driving habits rather than blaming someone else. “I think we’ve become a generation of people that always points the finger at others, and are very hesitant to acknowledge our own actions,” he said. “The No. 1  complaint in town is that people are speeding. And there is truth to that. But we often find that the very people who complain are doing it themselves, maybe without realizing it.”

The pandemic has also resulted in an increase of distracted walking incidents, in some cases due to social distancing concerns. “Motorists need to be aware of the same so they can adjust accordingly by slowing down and remaining more attentive to the fact that they may not be aware of their presence when approaching,” Murray’s report reads.

Taking the pledge makes motorists part of the solution. Participation is voluntary. Depending on how many drivers take part and the program’s success, it could be expanded in the future. In the meantime, all licensed drivers who live in Princeton and are in good standing with the New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles can take the pledge by visiting PPD headquarters at 1 Valley Road, any time between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

“We’re just trying to stay ahead of things,” Murray said. “I don’t want to see the situation get out of control. Because now that the restrictions from the pandemic have been lifted, we all know there are going to be more people out and about. Drivers just need to limit so many of these bad habits in their vehicles, and taking the pledge means you are serious about doing it.”