MoDOT Launches Buckle Up/Phone Down Campaign to Encourage Safe Driving Habits

MoDOT and the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety are challenging Missouri businesses and private individuals to buckle up and put their phones down.

The Buckle Up/Phone Down campaign is tackling the two most impactful actions a driver can take to prevent crashes or survive if one occurs.

First, drivers can put their phones down when they slide behind the wheel. Distracted driving is the number-one cause of crashes, not only in Missouri, but in the entire United States. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that cell phones were involved in 2,237 crashes in 2015 alone.

Next, people can buckle up each and every time they get in a vehicle. Of the 938 people killed on Missouri’s roadways in 2016, 684 were drivers and passengers of vehicles subject to Missouri’s current safety belt law. 62% of them were unrestrained.

According to MoDOT, the hope is to get private industry to openly support employee safety, either through internal safety campaigns, or actually changing policy banning cellphone use in company vehicles and making safety-belts mandatory.

“MoDOT has already taken both these steps,” said MoDOT Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger. “We’ve had the mandatory safety belt policy in place for years and have now banned all cell phone use, including voice, while operating a MoDOT vehicle.”

“You are 23 times more likely to be in a critical incident when the driver is texting and driving,” according to Highway Safety Director, Bill Whitfield. “And only eight states scored lower than Missouri on voluntary safety belt use.”

The Buckle Up/Phone Down Challenge is trying to change these numbers. Videos, social media posts, and a dedicated website, will feature citizens and employees at participating businesses giving the “thumbs up/thumbs down” sign to show their support of the effort.
The website can be found at modot.org/BuckleUpPhoneDown, and it will also feature the Wall of Fame where participating businesses and agencies can display their logos to show their support.