Write Up:

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

MoDOT supports efforts to achieve the ultimate goal of zero traffic fatalities as part of the state’s strategic highway safety plan, Show-Me Zero. This plan is built around the Safe System Approach and aims to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries by employing strategies across five key elements: Safer People, Safer Vehicles, Safer Speeds, Safer Infrastructure, and Safer Response.

There were 169 fatalities in the first quarter of 2026, a decrease of 31 compared to the same reporting period in 2025. The preliminary total for 2025 is 909   fatalities, which is a decrease of 46 from 2024. Preliminary data indicates Missouri experienced a 4.81%   decrease in traffic fatalities from 2024. The target for 2025 was 955 fatalities or fewer.

Focusing on Show-Me Zero, there are currently 50 counties where zero fatalities have occurred in the first three months of 2026. Additionally, there were 12 days without a fatal crash, including three instances where two consecutive days occurred 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 (TMS). 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.

Going forward, Missouri has established the goal of getting to half of the fatalities seen in 2024 over the next 20 years, 2045, for the THSP.  These goals set the tone for what the state is seeking to do:  get everyone to their destination safely.