PARK HILLS, Mo. (News First) – You can never be too safe while driving a vehicle. This Wednesday just happens to be a special day the Missouri Department of Transportation is recognizing and they would like all motorists to recognize, too. Chris Crocker is a project manager for MODOT.
“If you’re talking about safety, I couldn’t help but mention the fact that we’re having our eighth annual Buckle Up Phone Down Day, October 30th. It’s a day that we really put an emphasis on promoting the advantages of taking the time to put your seat belt on when you’re driving and putting your phone down. So in 2024, we had over a thousand fatalities throughout the state of Missouri and two-thirds of those fatalities were occupants that were unbuckled. That’s a pretty hard fact that kind of supports the fact that you really need to have your seat belt on when you’re driving,” Crocker shares.
Crocker also reminds motorists about a new driving law in the Show-Me State.
“About 106 lives were taken due to distracted driving. And in August of 2023, our state legislators were successful in passing the Sidon Spinnings Hand-Free Law, which took effect this past year. But officers have been giving warnings to be able to educate drivers on the fact that we now have a hands-free law. But coming up this January, it will go into full effect to where that they will actually be issuing citations for motors that are driving using their electronic device and not a hands-free device,” he adds.
As far as Buckle Up Phone Down Day, if you go to modot.org, individuals can sign up to accept the challenge of buckling up and putting your phone down. As you fill out the form, you can click yes that you would like a Buckle Up Phone Down window cling mailed to you. MODOT would also like to see high school students pledge to the program in what they call a High School Showdown in the Buckle Up Phone Down program.
