The evidence is clear: distracted driving is dangerous, and seatbelts save lives. With the help of sponsor GEICO, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) today announced the addition of the Buckle Up Phone Down logo on its fleet of Hoosier Helper Safety Service Patrol vehicles to increase awareness of this important initiative. Buckle Up Phone Down tackles two of the most impactful actions drivers and passengers can take – wearing a seatbelt and putting the phone down behind the wheel.“Changing driver behavior is crucial to improving safety on Indiana roadways, said INDOT Commissioner Mike Smith. “I urge both drivers and passengers to make safe, smart decisions each and every time they get into a vehicle. I also thank our Hoosier Helpers for the assistance they provide to motorists in need, and the work they do to clear incidents and keep traffic moving.”
Indiana ranks high in seat belt use at 93 percent, as reported in NHTSA’s 2021 National Occupant Protection Use Survey, but those who don’t buckle up are putting their lives at risk. While only seven percent of vehicle occupants are unbelted, they account for nearly half of all fatalities on Indiana roadways.
Indiana enacted its Hands-Free Law in 2020, which prohibits drivers from holding mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, in their hands while driving to reduce distracted driving and improve safety on Hoosier roadways. However, talking or texting while driving is only one of many types of distracted driving that leads to crashes including:
• Cell phone use (talking, texting, taking photos/videos, etc.)
• Eating or drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Grooming (applying makeup, brushing hair, flossing, etc.)
• Using a navigation system (GPS)
• Watching videos
• Changing music (connected devices, CDs, radio, etc.)
GEICO has been the exclusive sponsor of the INDOT Hoosier Helpers since 2021, and support from the insurer helps spread awareness of the Buckle Up Phone Down campaign to improve roadway safety by changing driver behavior.
INDOT at the State Fair
INDOT will once again host a booth at the Indiana State Fair this year, with INDOT employees sharing agency information and materials throughout the event, which runs from Friday, August 2, through Sunday, August 18. INDOT Day will be on Saturday, August 17, featuring a Hoosier Helper patrol vehicle on site at the INDOT booth outside the Mercantile Building, providing families an opportunity to get an up-close look at the trucks and safety equipment, and learn more about the patrol’s free services.
All 26 Hoosier Helper patrol vehicles are outfitted with reflective striping making them more visible to passing traffic, and they now display Buckle Up Phone Down decals in addition to INDOT and GEICO identifiers. The INDOT Hoosier Helpers, sponsored by GEICO, patrol 177 miles of roadway in the state, seven days a week, with patrol hours varied by day and coverage area. The program is a key part of INDOT’s effort to safely and efficiently keep traffic moving on heavily traveled highways in and around central Indiana (Indianapolis), northwest Indiana (Gary) and southern Indiana (Jeffersonville).
The main priority of Hoosier Helpers is quick incident clearance, in an effort to increase traffic flow and reduce secondary crashes. The patrol has attended to nearly 30,000 incidents so far in 2024. The patrol helps keep drivers safe by changing flat tires, fixing minor mechanical problems, providing minimal amounts of fuel, removing debris from the road and providing emergency medical assistance.
More information can be found at SafetyPatrolinfo.com, on the INDOT website (INDOT: Hoosier Helpers) and at BUPDIN.com; GEICO Living is also a source for auto safety related articles and tips. Assisted motorists are encouraged to share about the help they have received by posting to social media. Fans of the service can tag the patrol using #GEICOSafetyPatrol.
