State gets $30,000 grant to avoid distracted driving

Kentucky now has a $30,000 grant to encourage drivers to buckle up and avoid distractions. The money will fund evaluation of the effectiveness of the Buckle Up/Phone Down campaign through public feedback, including an online survey now available.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's Office of Highway Safety received the grant from the Governors Highway Safety Association, in collaboration with General Motors, to bolster the state's Buckle Up/Phone Down campaign. Kentucky is one of seven states to receive funding to reduce distracted driving.

"We appreciate GHSA and GM for their recognition and support of our distracted driving awareness and prevention efforts," said Gov. Andy Beshear. "These funds will help guide our campaign focus for the future and ultimately help save lives on Kentucky roadways."

Kentucky's Buckle Up/Phone Down campaign (bupdky.com) features videos, radio announcements, social media and digital advertising in both English and Spanish throughout Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April. Feedback from focus groups and online surveys will inform and improve the campaign. The survey is open to the public, to be completed through April 15 at https://bit.ly/BUPDSurvey.

"We're asking anyone interested to take the online survey," said KYTC Secretary Jim Gray. "Gathering opinions and ideas is imperative, as we continue to develop and improve campaigns aimed at educating motorists on safe driving behaviors."

During the past decade, distracted driving has become a leading cause of vehicle crashes. Each year in Kentucky, distracted driving results in more than 50,000 crashes, more than 15,000 injuries and approximately 200 deaths.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, while anything that takes a driver's eyes off the road, hands off the wheel or mind off the task of driving is a hazard, texting and the use of a phone while driving is especially risky because it combines all three types of distraction – visual, manual and cognitive.