JEFFERSON CITY – As one other faculty 12 months kicks off in Missouri, visitors fatalities within the state are down – thus far – for the third consecutive 12 months. Preliminary information exhibits from Jan. 1-Aug. 24, 2025, 577 individuals have been killed in Missouri visitors crashes, down from 589 throughout the identical interval final 12 months. Whereas the two% lower is encouraging, it’s too early to know if progress will maintain, particularly as Missourians transition to fall visitors patterns.
“Positive aspects on this entrance are extremely encouraging, however we’ve a protracted strategy to go to attain our final purpose, particularly because the second half of the 12 months usually presents its personal challenges,” stated State Freeway Security and Site visitors Engineer Jon Nelson. “Highway building, school-related actions, shorter days, vacation journey, and inclement climate: Now is just not the time to ease up or turn out to be complacent.”
Final 12 months, 344 individuals misplaced their lives in a Missouri visitors crash after September 1, via December 31, 2024, and there have been 364 such fatalities for a similar timeframe in 2023. If Missouri is to finish the 12 months with one other discount in visitors fatalities, continued beneficial properties within the ultimate 4 months of the 12 months will likely be essential.
“The highway to zero fatalities is not any simple feat, however as we work towards that, we’d like everybody to step up and do their half,” stated Nelson. “It begins with each considered one of us making the straightforward dedication to make use of the transportation system in a protected method – for ourselves, our family members, and others utilizing the roads.”
MoDOT is encouraging all Missourians to assist hold momentum by committing to 4 easy actions: Buckle up, cellphone down, decelerate, and drive sober.
Drivers can plan their journey forward of time with MoDOT’s Traveler Info Map at www.traveler.modot.org, the place they will discover present work zones, closures and incidents. Missouri’s strategic freeway security plan, Present-Me Zero, supplies extra info for the way all Missourians can do their half to attain zero visitors fatalities. The plan might be seen at www.savemolives.com.
