Township council cited the Muslim festival Eid al-Fitr at its March meeting and approved a resolution to participate in a national distracted-driving campaign.
Councilwoman Fozia Janjua, who became the first Muslim mayor of the township in 2024, read the proclamation recognizing Eid al-Fitr. Muslims worldwide observe the month of Ramadan through prayer, fasting, self-reflection and acts of charity to remember the first revelation of the Quran to the prophet Muhammad.
Ramadan lasts 29 to 30 days based on the timing of the crescent moon. Muslims break their daily fasts by sharing meals with family and friends, and the end of Ramadan is celebrated with Eid al-Fitr, a three-day festival of visiting family and friends, exchanging presents, enjoying feasts and sharing good tidings.
Muslims also show gratitude during Ramadan and the charitable sacrifices many of them make during the fasting month.
A member of the Mount Laurel Muslim Association was then presented with the council resolution. The association strives to embody the spirit of Islam through unity, service and meaningful contribution to society.
In other business, council approved a resolution to join the state’s crackdown on distracted driving for all of next month. The national slogan for the campaign is “UDrive. UText. UPay.”
Statistics show that in 2023 alone, distracted driving-related crashes in the U.S. resulted in 3,275 deaths and 324,819 injuries. Such accidents accounted for 13% of injury crashes and 13% of all reported motor-vehicle traffic crashes in the same year.
Texting while driving has become an especially problematic trend among young drivers. The national campaign emphasizes that 9% of drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in 2022 fatal crashes were reported as distracted.”
Recent research by Rowan University demonstrates the extent of the driver distraction problem in New Jersey. A pilot observational driver-distraction program was conducted in 2021 and 2022 along 10 high-crash highway corridors. Using video technology, the program found that the average rate of distraction for drivers sampled was between 20 and 25%.
The state will participate in the nationwide campaign from April 1 through 30 with a combination of enforcement and education.
The next council meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 20.
