News – Tuesday, February 18th 2025

According to preliminary data, 954 fatalities occurred on Missouri roadways in 2024. This is a decrease of 4% when compared to 2023, and a decrease of 10% compared to 2022. This is the second consecutive year that Missouri has seen a decrease in roadway fatalities. Despite the continued progress, this still amounts to nearly three lives lost on Missouri roadways every day, leaving plenty of room for improvement in 2025. The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety stresses how the four simple actions of Buckle Up, Phone Down, Slow Down and Drive Sober could put a big dent in the fatality numbers. While overall roadway fatalities were down, a record number of pedestrian fatalities occurred in 2024, with 148 pedestrians being struck and killed. This is a 16% increase from 2023 and continues a concerning trend of rising pedestrian deaths. That’s the highest number ever reported in Missouri. Additionally, a notable percentage of the pedestrian fatalities were individuals who exited their vehicle due to a prior crash or breakdown on the side of the road. State Highway Safety and Traffic Engineer Jon Nelson said that we still have a lot of work to do in Missouri, and we are especially concerned by the rising number of pedestrian fatalities in our state. We all have a responsibility to use the transportation system in a safe manner, and both drivers and pedestrians can make safe choices to help make this happen. He went on to say let’s keep our heads up, watch out for each other, slow down, and put all distractions aside, whether we’re behind the wheel or taking a walk. In contrast, preliminary numbers indicate motorcyclist fatalities in Missouri were down 23%, with 133 motorcyclists killed on Missouri roadways in 2024. This is the lowest number of motorcyclist deaths since Missouri repealed the all-rider helmet law in 2020. But, prior to the repeal, motorcycle deaths were typically around 120 per year. Cell phones have proven to be one of the most persistent and consequential distractions. Distracted driving contributed to more than 100 deaths in both 2023 and 2024, and statistically, more than half of the victims are someone other than the distracted driver. Missouri’s new Siddens-Bening Law now prohibits the use of handheld electronic devices, including cell phones, by all drivers. The law has already had a positive impact and is expected to continue doing so with citations now in effect for violating the law. Missouri’s strategic highway safety plan, Show-Me Zero, takes a comprehensive approach in creating a safe system to reduce and eliminate traffic fatalities. For more information on the Show-Me Zero plan and to learn how all Missourians can help make the roadways safer, visit www.savemolives.com.

A new online resource from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources offers information to landowners on best practices and methods for stream management. Developed in coordination with the Missouri Farm Bureau, “A Landowner’s Guide to Stream Management” details strategies for preventing eroding banks, property loss, excessive gravel and other challenges. Noah Cadwell of the department’s Waters Resources Center said that this guide is designed to empower landowners and give them a greater sense of independence when addressing their streams. He went on to say that the guide includes necessary regulatory information and the most effective stream management strategies. It will assist landowners in overcoming some common challenges that come from living by a stream while maintaining the stream’s ecosystem. Cadwell said the department developed the guide in response to concerns from farmers and landowners who face growing property loss stemming from past riparian corridor damages and historical land use changes. More than a year in the making, the guide includes information provided by experts from the department and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as well as from other agencies and organizations.  According to Cadwell this guide is designed to clarify the fundamentals of stream regulation for landowners and to explain what options may be available for different situations, plus he noted that our hope is by making this information more accessible and transparent, landowners will feel more comfortable considering projects benefiting their streambanks. This guide also provides information for obtaining technical assistance and financial support for landowners who are considering taking on larger projects. “A Landowner’s Guide to Stream Management” provides information on permitting needs and processes but is not intended to be a resource for regulatory guidance. Landowners need to read the applicable permits and consider consulting the proper regulatory agency before beginning stream work. The new guide is available at dnr.mo.gov.