Welcome to the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety

The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety is a partnership of safety advocates throughout the state who have come together for a common purpose:  to end traffic fatalities and serious injuries on public roadways. Missouri’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan, Show-Me Zero, outlines the state's plan for achieving success by implementing strategies most effective at mitigating the behaviors and issues most commonly associated with fatal and serious injury crashes in Missouri. Zero fatalities is our goal. Anything else is simply unacceptable. 

Registration Open: Highway Safety and Traffic Conference 2025

Registration is now open for Missouri's 2025 Highway Safety and Traffic Conference, taking place September 16-18, 2025. This conference will cover key topics in highway safety, traffic engineering, and Missouri's Show-Me Zero plan. Attendees can earn up to 15 PDHs and 6 POST credits. Click here to register and learn more!

Work Zone Awareness Week - April 21-25, 2025

Any time highway workers are present on a Missouri roadway, your safety and the safety of those workers depends on drivers’ focus and attention. Motorists are reminded to slow down, put their phone down and pay attention as they drive past work zones. Learn more about work zone safety and how we all play a role in getting where we're going safely.

For Whatever Lies Ahead: We Buckle

Missouri roads come with a lot of unknowns. On back roads, short drives, and long hauls, we are ready for whatever lies ahead. For every curve, every deer, every…thing. We buckle. The “We Buckle” campaign is going out across 18 counties in central Missouri, sharing the important message that MOST young adults in this region always wear their seatbe...

Siddens Bening Hands Free Law Takes Effect

After two years in a row of more than 1,000 fatalities on Missouri’s roadways, Gov. Mike Parson signed the Siddens Bening Hands-Free Law, prohibiting all drivers from using a handheld electronic communication device while driving, effective Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. To learn more about the law and what it entails, follow the link below.

Show Me Your Score Safe Driving Challenge!

The goal of the Show Me Your Score Safe Driving Challenge is to promote and reward teen safe driving in Missouri. Safer teen drivers and passengers means less crashes and ultimately fewer fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways. With $15,000 in prizes up for grabs for schools, teens, and faculty, the Show Me Your Score Safe Driving Challeng...

Smart Riders

Each year, several children are injured or killed in Missouri car crashes. Educating children on the proper way to use a seat belt and booster seat as well as other road safety tips is necessary to keep our children safe. The Smart Riders program is a fun-filled program designed to teach these valuable lessons.

Buckle Up Phone Down

Right now, Missouri has a "no texting" law for drivers age 21 years and under. But distracted driving isn't just a young driver problem. Approximately 70% of drivers using cell phones in Missouri traffic crashes were 22 years of age or older. We are challenging all drivers to honor that ban no matter what their age. Pledge to do your part and make ...

Missouri Coalition For Roadway Safety News

  • Missouri Roadway Fatalities Continue to Trend Downward

    02/04/2025

    Pedestrian fatalities hit record number

    JEFFERSON CITY – 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...

2024 Missouri Crash Statistics
Fatalities
955
Not Wearing Seat Belt
63%
As of 12/31/2024
*Seat belt stat includes only occupants of vehicles with seat belts
2025 Missouri Crash Statistics
Fatalities
364
Not Wearing Seat Belt
56%
As of 6/15/2025
*Seat belt stat includes only occupants of vehicles with seat belts
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SAFETY SPOTLIGHT

May Safety Spotlight: MoDOT's Highway Safety Office Grant Applications

The U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awards funding each year to MoDOT’s Highway Safety Office (HSO) for behavioral and enforcement programs statewide. Highway Safety initiatives are related to Aggressive Driving, Child Passenger Safety, Distracted Driving, Impaired Driving, Occupant Protection, Older Drivers, Speeding, and Teen Driving. 

This year, the HSO received 577 applications, totaling $37.6 million in requests.  Prior to the meeting, the HSO staff review all the grant applications to determine if the applications were eligible for NHTSA funding and to make recommendations regarding funding the application.  Recommendations are based on prior spending, prior contract interactions with the HSO, the needs in particular areas of the state, project scope, and funding availability.  During the week-long meeting, the HSO discusses each application and makes a final determination based on recommendations and discussions.

For FFY26, the HSO awarded 462 contracts to external partners, totaling $26 million.  This funding will be used for the following:

  • 329 Law Enforcement Projects relating to overtime, equipment, and training at $12 million
  • 110 General Projects for external partners like MADD, numerous fire departments, some state agencies and universities at $9 million
  • 23 internal HSO Projects for media and program support at $4 million. 

By comparison, the HSO was able to award $28.3 million in FFY25, which is $2.3 million more than the funding they were able to award for FFY26.  The grant funding is primarily used for staffing, training, for highway safety professionals, and needed equipment. 

The HSO is also awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP).  The purpose of MCSAP is to reduce the number and severity of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles (CMV) and to promote the safe transportation of passengers and hazardous materials.  The grant seeks to implement consistent, uniform, and effective CMV safety programs, which include driver/vehicle inspections, traffic enforcement, carrier audits/investigations, education/outreach, safety data improvements, and Performance and Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM).

The HSO is anticipating an award of approximately $10.8 million to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Kansas City, Springfield, St. Louis County, and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments, as well as to MoDOT’s Motor Carrier Services Division and the Highway Safety & Traffic Division.