Officials are urging drivers to buckle-up and put down the phone. WNIN’s John Gibson has details:
Indiana and Kentucky are among states that have proclaimed Wednesday "Buckle Up, Phone Down Day."
The effort promotes highway safety by urging drivers to always wear a seatbelt and avoid distractions behind the wheel.
INDOT Commissioner Lyndsay Quist says nearly 900 people lost their lives on Indiana roadways last year.
She notes fatalities are decreasing but injury crashes are up.
In Kentucky, Gov. Andy Behsear says a crash can happen in an instant, and taking simple steps like putting your phone down and buckling up can save lives.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says anything that takes a driver’s eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or mind off the task.
Experts warn using a phone combines all three types of distraction: visual, manual, and cognitive.