Write Up:

Providing safe and efficient travel in work zones is crucial to the safety of travelers, which is why MoDOT crews are committed to conducting work zone operations as safely as possible. MoDOT diligently works to inform the public to pay attention while driving, slow down, move over, buckle up, and drive without distractions. MoDOT’s goal of zero fatalities in work zones can only be achieved by continually educating the public and the highway construction industry.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, there were four on-system work zone fatality crashes, resulting in four fatalities. During the same reporting period, there were zero work zone fatality crashes on the local system. The following is a brief description of the fourth-quarter crashes:
•    One crash occurred when a young driver attempted to overtake a semi in the grass median, lost control, became tangled in the guard cable, and was struck by another semi-truck.
•    Another crash occurred when a pedestrian was walking at night in the right lane of the interstate and was struck.
•    A third crash occurred when a motorcyclist moved from the work area into the open lanes, attempted to cross the interstate, and was struck.
•    The final crash occurred when another motorcyclist traveled through a red light and was struck within an intersection work zone.

Poor driver behavior is the primary factor in fatal crashes and remains the largest challenge MoDOT faces in reducing fatalities in work zones. Community outreach and public awareness campaigns, such as Buckle Up Phone Down, are helpful, but ultimately MoDOT depends on the driving public making good choices when traveling through work zones.

Purpose of Measure:

This measure tracks the number of traffic-related and non-traffic-related fatalities, injuries and overall crashes occurring in work zones on state-owned and off-system 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). MoDOT staff query and analyze this data to identify work zone-related crash statistics. Missouri State Highway Patrol prioritizes entry of the crash reports by fatality, serious injury and property damage only. 

The target for this measure is updated quarterly. This target is established by projecting a 10% improvement over a 5-year average.