By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The Missouri Department of Transportation is reminding everyone of the importance of putting your phone down and buckling up as you drive.
Buckle Up, Phone Down day has been happening for eight years, spreading awareness of the importance of avoiding distracted driving.
Area Engineer Jose Rodriguez says one of the leading causes of fatal traffic accidents are unbuckled, distracted drivers.
“In Missouri this year, 64% of individual vehicle occupants have been killed in traffic crashes that are unbuckled,” Rodriguez tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And also distracted driving is one of the leading causes of crashes in Missouri and the United States.”
Rodriguez says in Missouri alone there were 106 fatal traffic crashes that were caused by distracted driving in 2023.
Rodriguez says phones make things such as GPS and music more accessible, data showing just how often drivers use their phone while traveling.
“Drivers actually interacted with their phones on nearly 58% of their trips, and so that’s a pretty high amount,” Rodriguez explains. “And also found that 34% of drivers were distracted within one minute before the time they crashed.”
Rodriguez says there is definite data showing that people interacting with their phones it’s almost instantaneous that they could crash, which is why MoDOT is working to spread awareness on this day.
Rodriguez says it’s important to avoid distracted driving
“Using your phone while you’re driving, it takes your attention away from the driving task, so we’re just wanting to remind everybody that as you put your phone down and you buckle up, it just makes your chances of getting to your destination that much greater,” Rodriguez says.
The state of Missouri enacted a hands-free law in August of last year. Starting in January, Tickets and fines will begin taking effect on January 1st of 2025.
Since the creation of Buckle Up, Phone Down in 2017, Missouri’s seat belt usage rate reached an all-time high and the number of people killed who were unbuckled has decreased.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.
