Put down the cellphone and pay attention: that’s the message to motorists that Red Bank police hope to underline this month as they conduct a special distracted-driving enforcement detail.

Why? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2014, 3,179 people were killed and an estimated 431,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver.

Yet a recent survey by the FDU PublicMind Poll for the federal Division of Highway Traffic Safety found that 67 percent of respondents said they “very often” see people driving and talking on a handheld cellphone, and 42 percent said they “very often” see driver’s texting.

Dubbed “U Drive, U Text, U Pay,” the crackdown will target motorists who engage in dangerous distracted driving behaviors such as talking on handheld cellphones and sending text messages while driving,” according to an announcement from the RBPD’s traffic. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)