Seat-belt usage in Missouri has risen to an all-time high.
A news release says the latest Missouri Seat Belt Usage Survey, which has been taken annually since 1998, shows 87.7 percent of Missourians use a seat belt. In 1998 that figure was 60 percent.
The good news is being celebrated across the state on Tuesday, October 29, with the annual observance of “Buckle Up, Phone Down Day.”
New efforts to promote the “Buckle Up, Phone Down” campaign will include a public-service announcement that features Missouri First Lady Teresa Parson. In this message, she shares her own heartfelt story of losing a loved one in a traffic crash.
“Buckle Up, Phone Down” messages also will be displayed on vehicle wraps touting the “BUPD” logo. They’ll be out on roadways in the Jefferson City and Columbia areas to remind motorists to Buckle Up and put their Phone Down when driving.
The release says with more than 90 percent of traffic crashes attributed to human error, most are preventable. However, a seat belt is your best defense in a vehicle crash.
For additional information regarding roadway safety or “Buckle Up, Phone Down”, visit the website, saveMOlives.com.