In collaboration with General Motors, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) recently awarded the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) Office of Highway Safety a $30,000 grant to reduce distracted driving.
The agency will use the funding for Kentucky’s Buckle Up/Phone Down campaign.
During Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April, the campaign will feature videos, radio spots, social media, and digital advertising in English and Spanish. KYTC also will hold focus groups and online surveys to improve the campaign.
The public survey can be completed through April 15.
“Watch the passing cars the next time you’re waiting at a crosswalk or riding in a vehicle – odds are you’ll see someone not paying full attention to the road,” GHSA Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Adkins said. “Everyone must do their part to help make distracted driving socially unacceptable.”
Distracted driving results in more than 50,000 crashes annually in Kentucky as well as more than 15,000 injuries and approximately 200 deaths.
Kentucky was one of seven states receiving grants to encourage drivers to buckle up and avoid distractions behind the wheel.
The GHSA is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to improve traffic safety.