MSHP hopes traffic fatalities decline in new year
By Harry Loomis
While the number of highway traffic fatalities hasn’t changed much in the Troop H region, statewide, roadway deaths are down from last year. Troopers hope that continues into the new year.
“As of (Friday) morning, we had 978 fatalities across state, which turned out to be a 6% decrease from last year at this time,” said Sgt. Dale Reuter of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. “I’m really hoping that we stay under the thousand mark this year. I think we can and I hope we do.”
These numbers, however, don’t match up to Troop H’s count, which is 41 fatalities, the same number as last year.
“This month in December, we only had one, versus last year we had two fatality wrecks,” Reuter said. “Holidays and things of that nature, you tend to see the fatality wrecks and stuff go up just for the simple fact that there’s more people there.”
One constant area of trouble in Troop H in 2023 was at Interstate 29 and Frederick, where road construction was causing bottlenecking, which led to many accidents. That area has been treated.
“They have redone the paving driving surface of itself,” Reuter said. “Another one where we’re looking at is over on I-35 there by the Cameron area where they’re doing construction over there. Once that’s done and everything will even itself back out.”
New laws aimed to prevent distracted driving will hopefully continue to play a factor in reducing the number of crashes. The highway patrol has also been out for many busy traveling holidays for Operation CARE, or crash awareness reduction efforts.
New Year’s is one of the busiest holidays for travel, meaning officers have been out in full force to help keep travelers safe.
“Any time we’re able to get a bigger number of troopers out on the roadway, the people see that we do what we call the high visibility patrolling where we have,” Reuter said. “Our patrols are marked out there where we have the lights and the stuff in there. So people see us and they slow down, which is always good, always makes them cautious of where we’re at.”
