On October 29, 2025, Ohio will take part in Buckle Up Phone Down Day. This is a national initiative aimed at reducing serious and fatal traffic crashes. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is leading the state’s participation. The campaign focuses on encouraging seatbelt use and reducing phone use while driving. Governor Mike DeWine stated that actions like buckling up and putting phones away can help prevent crashes and improve survival rates.
Ohio has seen a decline in overall traffic deaths over the past three years. However, preventable fatalities still occur. ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn said that using seatbelts and avoiding phone distractions are important steps for driver safety. She encouraged drivers to make safe choices while driving.
Data from the Ohio Department of Public Safety and the Ohio Traffic Safety Office show that Ohio’s seat belt compliance rate in 2024 was 85.2%. This is below the national average of 91.2%. In 2024, 64% of people killed in Ohio traffic crashes were not wearing seatbelts. This is the fifth year in a row that this rate has been above 60%…