Write Up:

By identifying the behaviors and characteristics most associated with severe crashes, MoDOT can make more informed decisions to improve safety. In 2025, there were 909 traffic fatalities in Missouri, a 4.8% decrease from 2024 and the third consecutive year of declining fatalities. When comparing 2025 data to 2024, the most notable decreases occurred in substance-impaired fatalities and unrestrained fatalities. Additionally, over the past five years, run-off-road fatalities have continued to decrease each consecutive year.

Distracted driving fatalities also decreased from 2024 to 2025, dropping to 96. However, the actual number is likely significantly higher, as distracted driving is difficult to capture in a crash report. The Missouri Legislature passed a new handsfree law for all drivers, which went into effect in August 2023. However, full implementation of the law did not take effect until Jan. 1, 2025. Drivers can now receive a citation for violating the law. Independent research from Cambridge Mobile Telematics indicates that distracted driving in Missouri has decreased by 7.8% since the law went into effect. Aggressive driving continues to be the leading cause of fatal crashes; however, there was a 14% decrease in these crashes from 2024 to 2025, dropping this number below pre-pandemic levels.

Missouri’s strategic highway safety plan, Show-Me Zero, was updated in 2025 and now includes five emphasis areas: Safer People, Safer Vehicles, Safer Speeds, Safer Infrastructure, and Safer Response. MoDOT aims to improve safety with every project by utilizing the Safety Assessment For Every Roadway (SAFER) approach. For the draft 2027–2031 STIP, the department has programmed 855 projects (75%) with safety improvements totaling approximately $565 million in the first three years. In addition, MoDOT administers approximately $25 million in federal funds designated for educational, enforcement, and outreach programs to improve highway safety.

Purpose of Measure:

The measure tracks annual trends in motor-vehicle-related fatalities resulting from the most common contributing factors or highway features. This data represents the four focus areas presented in Missouri’s strategic highway safety plan, Show-Me Zero.

Measurement and Data Collection:

Missouri law enforcement agencies submit a vehicle crash report form to the Missouri State Highway Patrol to be entered into a statewide traffic crash database, which feeds into MoDOT's Transportation Management System (TMS). MoDOT staff query and analyze this data to determine the number of unrestrained occupants in crashes, how often aggressive driving, distracted driving, alcohol and other drugs contribute to crashes, and whether the vehicles ran off the road, the crash occurred in a curve or at an intersection.