Roadway deaths in Missouri could exceed 2024 levels, reversing two years of declining traffic fatalities, state transportation officials warned recently.
Missouri Department of Transportation officials are urging seat belt use and for drivers to put down their phones while driving.
So far this year, there have been 745 roadway fatalities in Missouri, said Ed Hassinger, MoDOT director.
That’s 1% fewer than the same point last year and includes pedestrian fatalities, MoDOT said.
More than half of the deaths were not wearing a seatbelt, according to MoDOT. Distracted driving was reported in 106 cases — a likely undercount, the agency said.
Missouri officials had reported declines in traffic deaths for last year and 2023.
There were 955 such fatalities in 2024, down from 991 in 2023.
The highest share of deaths last year occurred in the fourth quarter, according to state data.
Jon Nelson, MoDOT state highway safety and traffic engineer, said progress in reducing fatalities had slowed significantly in recent months.
“Even more concerning is the impact behind each of those numbers,” he said in a news release. “The lives lost are a fraction of the lives forever changed by poor driving decisions.”
Nelson said the state has made “tremendous strides” in increased seat belt usage since launching its “Buckle Up, Phones Down” campaign. Signage is found around Houston, including the school campus.
“But distracted and aggressive driving remain dire concerns,” he said. “These next few months of increased holiday travel and potential winter conditions are a reminder of how crucial it is to stay alert behind the wheel.”