Missouri roadways have been seeing less fatalities in recent years, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).
Based on preliminary data, Missouri roadways saw 954 fatalities in 2024. This is a 4% decrease compared to 2023 and a 10% decrease from 2022.
Despite the continued progress, this still amounts to nearly three lives lost on Missouri roadways every day, leaving plenty of room for improvement in 2025, MoDOT said in a release. The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety stresses four simple actions in its “Buckle Up, Phone Down, Slow Down and Drive Sober” campaign that could put a big dent in the fatality numbers.
Despite fatalities going down, pedestrian deaths rose last year, with 148 pedestrians being struck and killed. This is a 16% increase from 2023, and the highest number ever reported in Missouri.
“We still have a lot of work to do in Missouri, and we are especially concerned by the rising number of pedestrian fatalities in our state. We all have a responsibility to use the transportation system in a safe manner, and both drivers and pedestrians can make safe choices to help make this happen,” State Highway Safety and Traffic Engineer Jon Nelson said in a statement.
Source: AASHTO, Emissourian.com
