The Missouri Department of Transportation and the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety are in their eighth year of encouraging better driving behaviors as part of the annual Buckle Up Phone Down Day on Wednesday, October 30th. The Buckle Up Phone Down Day challenges all drivers to do the two most important steps while driving to reduce your risk of a fatal crash. The goal is to have zero traffic fatalities on Missouri roads throughout the day.
MoDOT says to date in 2024, of the more than 740 fatalities in the state, 63% of vehicle occupants killed were unbuckled.
Distracted driving is also a leading cause of crashes in Missouri. In 2023, distracted driving was cited in crashes that claimed 106 lives.
Missouri State Highway Safety and Traffic Engineer Jon Nelson. Says “Every single driver plays a role in combatting the safety crisis happening on our roads.” He says “The Safest Driver Competition is a great step in educating the next generation of drivers to make the right decisions behind the wheel. It’s important to be mindful of the shared responsibility we have to each other every time we hit the road.”
