State and local agencies are urging the public to participate in a Wisconsin initiative taking place today (October 29th).
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation Buckle Up Phone Down campaign will take place today, asking motorists to wear seatbelts and avoid distractions such as cellphones and other mobile devices.
The DOT and local law enforcement, such as the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office, have said that these are the two most important actions to put safety first while on the road.
Data from the DOT shows that 576 people died on Wisconsin roads last year, with 176 of those involving someone who was not wearing a seatbelt.
Likewise, last year, distracted driving accounted for more than 9,000 crashes in Wisconsin, leading to 44 fatalities.
The simple act of sending a text message while behind the wheel can take one’s eyes off the road for just five seconds, but at 55 MPH, that five seconds is the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field without looking at the road.
This puts you, your passengers, and others sharing the road at risk for accidents that can very easily have deadly consequences.
While today serves as the day of the Buckle Up Phone Down initiative, these practices can make state roads safer every day of the year.
