More than 10,000 individuals have accepted the “Buckle Up-Phone Down Challenge,” according to the Missouri Department of Transportation and Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety. The milestone announcement follows on the heels of the Missouri Highway Safety and Traffic Blueprint Conference held in Columbia September 9-11.
The “Buckle Up-Phone Down” campaign was created in 2017 to address the two most impactful actions a driver can take to prevent crashes- or survive if one occurs.
Drivers using cellphones in Missouri reportedly were involved in 2,580 crashes in 2017 alone.
Sometimes even the most attentive drivers are involved in a crash caused by other drivers. That’s when wearing a seat belt every time you get in a vehicle becomes the best defense against injury and death.
In 2018, there were 391 known unbelted fatalities in Missouri traffic crashes. More than 1,000 other individuals were involved in the same crashes and survived at a much higher rate-77 percent compared to 38 percent for those who were unbuckled.
The third annual “Buckle Up-Phone Down” Day will be held October 29 at the Stotler Lounge on the campus of the University of Missouri. The event includes a roundtable discussion on distracted driving with a panel of experts. Other activities are planned throughout the state.
For more information, visit modot.org/BuckleUpPhoneDown/.