GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – October 25 is “Buckle Up – Phone Down Day.” The Wisconsin Department of Transportation marking the occasion with a news conference at Green Bay’s East High School.
In the two years since the initiative was launched, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation says the campaign is making a difference. Seatbelt usage in Wisconsin is up and fatal crashes are on track to be down.
But for as effective as the program has been, more can always be done because just one fatality is one too many.
Last year nearly 600 people were killed in crashes on Wisconsin roadways. One hundred and sixty-eight of those people weren’t wearing seatbelts. And nearly 40 who died, were killed in crashes attributed to distracted driving.
“I know that many people, myself included, have stopped people that we thought were actually impaired or a drunk driver, turns out it has everything to do with being on that phone,” said Superintendent Tim Carnahan from the Wisconsin State Patrol.
The “Buckle Up Phone Down” campaign was created to curb those bad driving habits and the statistics are showing it’s working.
According to Department of Transportation Secretary Craig Thompson, “Preliminary data shows more people in Wisconsin are using seatbelts than in the past few years when our seatbelt use dropped below the national average as well as our five year average. Overall traffic fatalities are on track to be down this year over last and the five year average.”
While seatbelt usage is up, distracted driving remains a concern – cellphones are a huge distraction for drivers.
The Wisconsin DOT teamed up with the WIAA and high schools, like East, years ago to encourage new teen drivers to make good choices behind the wheel. The “Buckle Up Phone Down” campaign is one teens are paying attention to when they get in the car, understanding their actions have consequences.
“I’ve seen a lot of things happen. I’ve been at the scene of car accidents and it is scary seeing what can happen. I also have family members who have gotten into serious car accidents and who have unfortunately passed away. It’s just something that you don’t want to see happen to you or your friends and you don’t want to make anyone be put through that,” said East High student Keyana Perez.
But the problem isn’t just with teens which is why it’s important for all drivers to take the pledge and save lives. DOT “Click It or Ticket” spokesman and former Packers wide receiver Donald Driver added, “To keep as many lives safe as possible, but not just yours the people that’s riding next to you and the people that’s in the car with you.”
Drivers can take the “Buckle Up Phone Down” pledge on the DOT’s website.
