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 works diligently 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 both the public and the highway construction industry.

In the first quarter of 2026, there were three on-system work zone fatal crashes, resulting in three 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 first quarter crashes:
•    One crash occurred when a passenger vehicle rear ended the trailer of a stopped semi -truck. It was reported that the vehicle did not take any evasive maneuvers. It was also reported that the semi truck’s trailer brake lights were not illuminated, but all lanes were slowing or stopped due to work zone congestion. Given the location and time of day, there was likely a lane drop in place.
•    The second crash does not yet have a completed crash report, but it appears to have involved a semi-truck rear ending another semi-truck in congestion caused by a work zone.
•    The third crash occurred at the beginning of a work zone but does not appear to be work zone related. The vehicle departed the roadway for unknown reasons and struck the backside of a guardrail and a sign truss footing.

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.