AASHTO Journal - MoDOT Says Roadway Fatalities Down Statewide

According to preliminary data, the Missouri Department of Transportation said traffic fatalities fell statewide by 4 percent in 2024 to 954 compared to 2023 and are down by 10 percent compared to 2022, marking two consecutive years of roadway fatality declines.

[Above photo by MoDOT]

MoDOT added that its preliminary numbers indicate motorcyclist fatalities in Missouri were down 23 percent, with 133 motorcyclists killed on Missouri roadways in 2024.

However, the agency stressed that while overall roadway fatalities were down, a record number of pedestrian fatalities occurred in 2024, with 148 pedestrians being struck and killed.

This is a 16 percent increase from 2023 and continues a concerning trend of rising pedestrian deaths. Additionally, MoDOT pointed out that a notable percentage of the pedestrian fatalities were individuals who exited their vehicle due to a prior crash or breakdown on the side of the road.

“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,” noted Jon Nelson, MoDOT’s state highway safety and traffic engineer, in a statement.

“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,” he added. “Let’s keep our heads up, watch out for each other, slow down, and put all distractions aside, whether we’re behind the wheel or taking a walk.”
MoDOT also noted that mobile phones have proven to be one of the most persistent and consequential distractions when it comes to motorist behavior. Distracted driving contributed to more than 100 deaths in both 2023 and 2024, and statistically, more than half of the victims are other than the distracted driver, the agency said.

MoDOT pointed out that Missouri’s new Siddens-Bening Law now prohibits the use of handheld electronic devices, including cell phones, by all drivers. The law has already had a positive impact and is expected to continue doing so with citations now in effect for violating the law.