Evidence shows that distracted driving is dangerous, and seatbelts save lives.
With the help of sponsor GEICO, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) this week announced the addition of the “Buckle Up Phone Down” logo on its fleet of Hoosier Helper Safety Service Patrol vehicles to increase awareness of this important initiative. Buckle Up Phone Down tackles two of the most impactful actions drivers and passengers can take – wearing a seatbelt and putting the phone down behind the wheel.
Indiana ranks high in seat belt use at 93 percent, as reported in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 2021 National Occupant Protection Use Survey, but those who don’t buckle up are putting their lives at risk. While only seven percent of vehicle occupants are unbelted, they account for nearly half of all fatalities on Indiana roadways.
Indiana enacted its Hands-Free Law in 2020, which prohibits drivers from holding mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, in their hands while driving to reduce distracted driving and improve safety on Hoosier roadways.
