(KAIR)--Buckle up and put that phone down, with transportation officials saying those actions save lives on roadways.

Wednesday, October 28, is Buckle Up Phone Down Day, an annual campaign encouraging drivers to wear seat belts and avoid distractions behind the wheel.

The Kansas Department of Transportation says preliminary figures from 2025 show 368 people died in traffic wrecks across the state, including 110 who were not wearing seat belts.

Another 60 people died in wrecks involving distracted driving, with more than 400 others suffering suspected serious injuries.

Kansas Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed is encouraging drivers to accept the challenge and set an example for younger motorists by buckling up and putting their phones away.

KDOT recommends silencing phone notifications, using the Do Not Disturb feature, or having a passenger handle calls and messages.

According to federal highway safety officials, wearing a seat belt can reduce the risk of fatal injury by about 45 percent in a passenger car and 60 percent in a light truck.

The Buckle Up Phone Down campaign began in Missouri in 2017 and has since expanded nationwide.