Write Up:

Safety is MoDOT’s number one priority. Whether a resident, visitor to the state, or  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 199 fatalities in the first quarter of 2025, an increase of seven compared to the same reporting period in 2024. In the second quarter, there were 217 fatalities, a decrease of 13 compared to the same period in 2024. In the third quarter, there were 259 fatalities, a decrease of three. In the fourth quarter, 235 fatalities were reported, a decrease of 36 compared to the same reporting period last year. Overall, fatalities in 2025 decreased by 4.71% compared to all four quarters of 2024. The preliminary total fatalities for 2025 is 910, which is 45 fewer than in 2024. The target for 2025 was 955 fatalities or fewer.

Focusing on Show-Me Zero, six counties reported zero fatalities in 2025. Additionally, there were 45 days without a fatal crash, including four instances of two consecutive days and one instance of three consecutive days 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.

Targets are based on Zero by 2030 fatality reduction, 1% Vehicle Miles Traveled (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.