The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) wants Missourians to take part in Buckle Up, Phone Down Challenge Day on Fri., Oct. 20.
This is a great day to start a habit that could save your life. When you get into a vehicle, buckle your safety belt. If you are driving, put the cellphone down and leave it there.
Only 9 states rank lower than Missouri in seat belt usage. MoDOT records show that, of the 683 vehicle drivers and passengers who died in crashes on Missouri roads in 2016, 63% were not wearing a seat belt.
Reported crashes involving cell phones in Missouri rose 17 percent in 2015. When a driver is texting and driving they are 23 times more likely to be in a critical incident. (source: VA Tech)
For more information about the challenge, visit the MoDOT site.