UPDATE: N.J.'s texting-while-driving ticket blitz starts Monday. These 207 departments got $1M to target distracted drivers.

Police around New Jersey will be cracking down on texting behind the wheel and other distracted driving as part of an enforcement campaign in April.

Lasting through April 21, officials said the “high visibility law enforcement initiative” will target drivers talking on handheld cell phones and texting.

"This is clearly one of the most critical traffic safety issues that we face today,” New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety Director Eric Heitmann said in a statement.

Driver inattention was listed as a contributing factor in 53 percent of New Jersey’s crashes in 2016, according to officials.

“The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2016 alone, 3,450 people were killed in distracted driving crashes and an estimated 391,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver,” Heitmann said.

Cell phone usage and texting while driving contributed to over 804,000 crashes in #NewJersey from 2011 to 2015; we are here to remind you that incoming messages or calls can wait until you’ve made it to your destination safely. #PutItDownJustDrive pic.twitter.com/gjX2fjrpZ3 — New Jersey DHTS (@NJTrafficSafety) March 20, 2019

New Jersey is among four states to receive a federal grant dedicated to stopping distracted driving, officials said. Maine, Connecticut and Oregon were the other states to qualify.

The initiative, dubbed “UDrive. UText. UPay,” comes during Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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