Police remind public to drive without distractions

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Kentucky law enforcement officials are reminding drivers to fasten their seat belts and focus on the road.

Kentucky State Police and the Kentucky Highway Safety are kicking off the state’s first #BuckleUpPhoneDown campaign.

The campaign features videos, radio spots, digital advertising and a new dedicated website at kyhighwaysafety.com.

Officials say, if drivers commit to these two simple actions, lives will be saved on our roadways.

Seat belts can reduce injury risk or death by up to 65%.

“You wouldn’t get on a roller coaster without some type of safety support, and being in a vehicle crash, often is like being on a roller coaster,” Kentucky State Police Trooper Daniel Priddy said.

Fatal injuries to unrestrained motorists have occurred when traveling as slow as 12 miles per hour and a fourth of the state’s crashes involved the use of a cell phone.