JEFFERSON CITY – Friday, Oct. 20, has been designated “Buckle Up/Phone Down Day,” and the Missouri Department of Transportation and the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety have planned two local events to draw attention to the importance of saying yes to seat belts and no to cell phone use while driving.
At 3 p.m. on Oct. 17, MoDOT and the coalition will partner with Truman the Tiger and the student chapter of The American Society of Civil Engineers to promote Buckle Up/Phone Down Day on the Mizzou campus. Truman and friends will be stationed outside of Lafferre Hall to challenge students to buckle up and put their phones down while driving.
Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin will further the Buckle Up/Phone Down cause by offering to take “selfies” with anyone who is interested in accepting the challenge. The mayor will join MoDOT and Central Bank officials and Sgt. Scott White of the Missouri Highway Patrol at a news briefing scheduled for 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 20 at Central Bank, 238 Madison Street in downtown Jefferson City.
Central Bank and the City of Jefferson are two local entities that have taken the Buckle Up/Phone Down pledge. By accepting this challenge, they have agreed to actively promote seatbelt use in all company vehicles and discourage cell phone use when driving.
Distracted driving is the leading cause of traffic crashes, with texting and driving increasing the risk of a crash by 50 percent. In addition, 67 percent of this year’s traffic fatalities involved unbuckled drivers or passengers who may have survived if they were properly restrained.
“The challenge is simple,” said MoDOT’s Central District Engineer David Silvester. “When you get into any vehicle, buckle up your safety belt. If you’re a driver, put your cell phone down. Turn it off if you have to. By taking these steps, you’ll be doing your part to make Missouri roads safer.”
Join the movement and stand up and be counted on Buckle Up/Phone Down Challenge Day Friday, Oct. 20. Visit www.modot.org/BuckleUpPhoneDown/ for more information.
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