The Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) is teaming up with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) in order to fight the rising traffic fatalities on the nation's road and highways.
This new approach to road safety, under the name of the National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS) comes after two consecutive years of over 1,000 road fatalities, the highest Missouri has seen since 2006.
MODOT was recognized as a 'First Mover' for the NRSS. MODOT has committed to a Call to Action centered around its Buckle Up Phone Down (BUPD) program which encourages drivers to buckle up and put their phone down.
“Missouri is honored to partner with the U.S. DOT in support of the national effort toward safer roads,” said MODOT Director Patrick McKenna. “The fatalities on our nation’s roads and here in Missouri are staggering. On average in Missouri, three people are killed each day on our roads and two of them weren’t wearing a seat belt. It’s imperative we commit ourselves to safer driving habits and reverse this unacceptable trend. This national partnership is an important step, but the effort requires a commitment from every person on the road every trip.”
The BUPD program began in 2017, and spread across Missouri along with other states. The current program focuses outreach to drivers through educational materials and a BUPD pledge, which is available to individuals and businesses here.
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Source: NewsTalkKZRG.com
