Beshear declares Oct. 29 ‘Buckle Up, Phone Down Day’ to promote safety

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 28, 2025) – To encourage Kentucky drivers to make two life-saving steps, Gov. Andy Beshear is proclaiming Oct. 29 as “Buckle Up, Phone Down Day.”

According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Kentucky is joining several states in the effort to promote highway safety by asking drivers to wear a seatbelt and avoid distracted driving.

“A crash can happen in an instant, and taking the simplest steps like putting your phone down and buckling up can save lives,” Beshear said. “Please, make the right choices to protect yourself and your neighbors. Let’s all work together to keep our roadways safe for our families.”

Over the past 10 years, distracted driving has become one of the leading causes of vehicle crashes on our nation’s roads.

According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety, each year in Kentucky, distracted driving results in more than 40,000 crashes, more than 11,000 injuries and more than 150 deaths.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, using a phone while driving is especially dangerous. Anything that takes a driver’s eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or mind off the task of driving is a hazard – and using a phone combines all three types of distraction: visual, manual and cognitive.

“Even if you’re a responsible driver, others may not be,” KYTC Sec. Jim Gray said. “Your first line of defense is to always wear your seat belt. You can’t control other drivers’ actions, but you can control your own. It only takes two seconds to buckle your seat belt, and those few seconds can be enough to save your life if you’re in a crash.”

According to KOHS, each year in Kentucky, nearly half of those killed in motor vehicles are not wearing a seat belt. NHTSA reports not wearing a seat belt gives drivers the best chance of preventing injury or death in a crash.

Property fasted seat belts rest on the strongest parts of the body, such as the chest, hips and shoulders, officials say.

The “Buckle Up, Phone Down” campaign was created in Missouri in 2017 and has expanded to nearly two dozen states across the country. It was adopted in Kentucky in 2019. Beshear also declared proclamations for “Buckle Up, Phone Down Day” in 2023 and 2024.

Visit bupdky.com to learn more and to download an original cell phone ringtone.