MISSOURI — The Missouri Department of Transportation has partnered with the U.S. Department of Transportation on a new, comprehensive approach to reversing the rise in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on the nation’s highways, roads and streets. This National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS) partnership comes after two consecutive years of more than 1,000 roadway fatalities in Missouri, a mark that hadn’t previously been met since 2006.
MoDOT was recognized as a “First Mover” for the U.S. DOT’s NRSS program. MoDOT has committed to a Call to Action centered around its Buckle Up Phone Down (BUPD) program. The BUPD program challenges Missourians to do their part in making Missouri’s roads safer by using their seat belt and putting down, or turning off, their phone while driving.
“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.”
MoDOT initiated the BUPD program in 2017, and it has spread steadily across Missouri and more than a dozen other states. The current program focuses outreach to drivers through educational materials and a BUPD pledge, which is available to individuals and businesses at www.modot.org/bupd.
This BUPD Call to Action commitment is just the latest in MoDOT’s ongoing safety improvement efforts encompassed in Show-Me Zero, the state’s strategic highway safety plan. The plan promotes safety for all road users by focusing on four key messages: buckle up, phone down, slow down and drive sober. Show-Me Zero also embraces a safe system approach which works by building and reinforcing multiple layers of protection to both prevent crashes from happening and to minimize the harm caused when crashes do occur. More information about Show-Me Zero is available at www.savemolives.com/mcrs/show-me-zero .
For more information on the U.S. DOT’s National Roadway Safety Strategy Call to Action, visit https://www.transportation.gov/NRSS/CallToAction.