Nine Louisiana High Schools Selected for Buckle Up Phone Down Pilot Project
Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at 8:38:24 AM
Baton Rouge, LA – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), along with its Destination Zero Deaths (DZD) partners and AAA, is collaborating on a pilot project of the Buckle Up Phone Down (BUPD) High School Showdown in Louisiana. Nine high schools across the state have been selected to participate in this inaugural program: Berwick High School, LaGrange High School, Terrebonne High School, Plain Dealing High School, Plainview High School, Chalmette High School, Ponchatoula High School, Walker High School and Neville High School. The program runs from October 30 to December 31, 2024, and aims to educate students on the importance of safe driving habits, as well as encourages them to pledge to buckle up and put their phones down while driving.

Data from 2019 to 2023 reveals a concerning trend in Louisiana, highlighting the urgent need for programs like the BUPD High School Showdown:

• Unrestrained drivers and passengers were involved in 34% of all fatalities and 19% of all serious injuries from car crashes statewide.
• Distracted drivers were involved in 20% of all fatalities and 31% of all serious injuries from car crashes statewide.
• In 2023, distracted driving was a factor in 21% of crashes.

The BUPD High School Showdown, modeled after a successful program in Missouri, is being piloted in Louisiana with the nine named high schools. The program encourages these schools to generate the highest percentage of student pledges to buckle up and put their phones down. Since the program began in Missouri in 2021, AAA has awarded 17 Missouri high schools more than $25,000 in donations. Louisiana hopes to expand the program to include more high schools in the future. The two participating schools with the highest percentage of student pledge submissions will win monetary donations from AAA to be used for safety-focused student programs. First prize is $5,000 and second prize is $2,500.

Schools are encouraged to get creative in promoting the showdown and encouraging students to take the pledge. The program is designed to be flexible and can be integrated into various aspects of school life. Suggested ideas include:

• School assemblies or group presentations led by outside instructors or teachers.
• Teacher-led classroom presentations in subjects like driver's education, health, physical education or family and consumer sciences.
• Peer-to-peer presentations by student service groups.
• Lunchtime tabling events.
• Promoting pledge sign-up during athletic and after-school events.

Crashes are preventable. The goal of the BUPD High School Showdown is to make a lasting impact on Louisiana traffic safety by educating young drivers about the importance of safe driving habits. By buckling up, putting their phones down and driving responsibly, students can make Louisiana roadways safer for everyone.

DZD is a statewide initiative dedicated to eliminating traffic fatalities in Louisiana. The DZD partners are DOTD, the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and the Louisiana State Police. Learn more by visiting destinationzerodeaths.com.

To learn more about BUPD, watch the video here. To learn more about the BUPD High School Showdown, visit here. To access the BUPD High School Showdown Materials, visit here.