Write Up:

Safety is MoDOT’s number one priority. Whether resident, visitor to the state or highway worker, the ultimate goal is to assure that everyone returns home safely.             

MoDOT supports Zero Fatalities by 2030 as part of the strategic highway safety plan, Show Me Zero, designed to reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes using the four key disciplines of traffic safety: engineering, enforcement, education and emergency response.

There were 201 fatalities in the first quarter, 261 in the second quarter, 300 in the third quarter and 272 in the fourth quarter of 2022. This is an increase of 17 fatalities during the first quarter, a decrease of 28 fatalities during the second quarter, another decrease of two fatalities in the third quarter and an increase of 31 fatalities in the fourth quarter of this year. The preliminary total for 2022 after four quarters is 1,034, which is an increase over 2021’s total by 18 fatalities. Even though Missouri has only seen a 2% increase, the state has not seen numbers this high since 2006. The target for 2022 is 954 fatalities or fewer.        

Focusing on Show Me Zero, there are currently 11 counties with zero fatalities in 2022. There were 38 days with zero fatalities, which included four times when two days occurred sequentially without a fatal crash and one instance where three days occurred sequentially without a fatal crash.

Purpose:

This measure tracks the number of fatalities quarterly, annually and 5-year average trends resulting from traffic crashes on all Missouri roadways.

Measurement and Data Collection:

Missouri law enforcement agencies submit a vehicle accident report form to the Missouri State Highway Patrol to be entered into a statewide traffic crash database. The database automatically updates MoDOT’s crash database system, which is part of the Transportation Management System. The rate of fatal crashes charts display annual and 5-year average fatality and injury rates per 100 million vehicle miles traveled for these same crashes. In addition, the fatality rate chart includes the national average. 

Targets are based on Zero by 2030 fatality reduction, 1% VMT increase and non-motorized reduction based on overall fatality and reductions. An exception is made for instances where the baseline 5-year rolling average is less than the calculated target using the parameters previously described. When this occurs, the baseline will be used as the target.