As roadway fatalities in Missouri inch closer to surpassing last year’s count, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is urging drivers to use safe driving practices heading into the holiday and winter season.
The effort coincides with the ninth annual Buckle Up Phone Down (BUPD) Day, held Oct. 29. MoDOT hosted events across the state with safety partners to encourage responsible behavior behind the wheel.
Efforts to reduce roadway fatalities are closely tied to the BUPD initiative. Vehicle occupants who are unbuckled face the highest risk of being killed in a crash, and distracted driving continues to be one of the leading causes of crashes in Missouri.
So far in 2025, more than half of the 700-plus people killed on Missouri roadways were unbuckled. Fatality data from 2024 cited at least 106 deaths caused by distracted driving, though that number is likely higher due to underreporting.
While roadway fatalities in 2025 to date remain slightly below 2024 levels, winter weather and the holiday season often bring an uptick in traffic-related deaths. The last quarter of the year makes it even more important for motorists to stay alert behind the wheel and practice safe driving habits.
Many positive strides have been made in recent years toward improving highway safety in Missouri, thanks in part to the Siddens-Bening Hands-Free Law and the state’s secondary seat belt law. Many local cities and counties have gone further by enacting primary seat belt ordinances, allowing officers to stop drivers specifically for not wearing a seat belt, without the need for additional law violations.
The Buckle Up Phone Down initiative has now spread across more than half the United States, as states adopt the program’s straightforward message: wear your seat belt and put your phone down while driving. Missouri’s annual BUPD Day serves as a reminder that simple, safe choices can save lives.
In the meantime, take the BUPD pledge and join the safety movement sweeping the nation.
