Missouri has a population exceeding six million people. The state boasts well-known and densely populated cities, including St. Louis and Kansas City. The sheer number of drivers and the frequency of driving represents a dangerous, if not deadly, combination concerning motor vehicle accidents.
According to The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), residents of “The Show-Me State” traveled close to 80,000,000 miles in 2019, the most recent data provided.
New motor vehicles have practically unprecedented and highly cutting-edge safety features. Roads throughout Missouri and the entire country are becoming safer as well. Online access to reviews sees drivers being more particular as they research the safest cars.
Common factors
While multiple factors can result in car accidents, commonalities exist and include:
- Speeding
- Driving under the influence (DUI)
- Texting
- Eating and drinking
- Inclement weather
The Missouri State Highway Patrol cited a reduction in car accidents from approximately 157,000 total car accidents in 2019 to 131,390 during the following year. Nearly 48,000 people suffered injuries. One major factor was the worldwide pandemic starting in 2020 that saw commuters staying home and off the roads.
- Bad weather – Approximately 21,000 crashes.
- Run off the road – 1,723
- Not wearing seatbelts – 1,187
- Speeding or driving too fast for conditions – 991
When it comes to fatal motor vehicle crashes, the MSHP revealed a 12 percent increase from 2019 to 2020. Alarmingly, the number is larger for 2021, with estimates at approximately 1,015. Again, fast driving and bad weather account for 40 percent of those collisions.
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