10th annual Missouri buckle up phone down day is Wednesday; 716 people have been killed on Missouri roads this year

By Zimmer Communications
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Missouri transportation officials, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, AAA Missouri and others are reminding you to wear your seat belt Wednesday.

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The driver of this tractor trailer was killed in April’s horrific crash on Route J near Laddonia (April 1, 2026 file photo courtesy of Missouri State Highway Patrol Twitter)

It’s the 10th annual buckle up phone down day and we’ll also receive more details on the latest roadway fatality figures for 2026 today. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) says we’ve seen four straight years of declining roadway fatalities. At least 716 people have been killed in Missouri roadways in 2026 and more than half of those were unbuckled, according to MoDOT.

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Missouri state troopers say Sunday afternoon’s deadly crash happened on Route Z in Callaway County (October 25, 2026 photo courtesy of Missouri State Highway Patrol Twitter page)

MoDOT director Ed Hassinger, Improve I-70 officials, AAA Missouri and the Missouri Highway Patrol have called a noon press conference for today at the Drury Inn hotel in Columbia.