Missouri State Highway Patrol Captain John Hotz Archives

Nearly 1,000 people died in Missouri traffic crashes in 2020

February 18, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

The State Highway Patrol reports 989 lives were lost in Missouri traffic crashes in 2020, up from 881 in 2019. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) says the preliminary reporting indicates a 12% increase compared to 2019.

“Nearly every fatal crash that occurs is preventable,” says Missouri State Highway Patrol Public Information and Education Director, Cpt. John Hotz. “Over 90% of these crashes were the result of someone simply making a poor decision, primarily: driving too fast, driving distracted or driving impaired. Many of those killed were not wearing a seat belt.”

MoDOT says despite traffic volumes in the state being significantly lower for most of 2020, Missouri experienced its largest number of traffic fatalities since 2007. Notable increases were in unbuckled and speed related deaths, with both experiencing about a 25% jump from the previous year.

MoDOT says in 2020, 67% of drivers and passengers killed in car crashes were unbuckled and preliminary numbers indicate 389 people were killed in crashes involving excessive speed or driving too fast for conditions. In addition, there were 126 pedestrians killed in 2020 –the largest number of pedestrian deaths in Missouri’s recorded history.

“The pandemic reminded us even if a large portion of vehicles are removed from the roadways, poor driving behaviors still have significant and often deadly consequences.” says MoDOT State Highway Safety and Traffic Engineer Nicole Hood. “We continue to work diligently in achieving the ultimate goal – zero traffic fatalities in Missouri. This year, we’re excited to introduce Missouri’s new strategic plan, a tool we hope will help us eventually reach that goal.”

Missouri has rolled out a new highway safety plan, called Show-Me Zero, Driving Missouri Toward Safer Roads. The effort includes four key focus areas to help make a difference: occupant protection (seat belts, car seats and helmets), distracted driving, speed and aggressive driving, and impaired driving.

It includes strategies for families and individuals as well as groups such as schools, businesses, local public agencies, law enforcement, health organizations, and statewide officials.

The plan can be viewed in its entirety at www.savemolives.com or by calling MoDOT at 888-ASK-MODOT.

Missouri traffic fatalities up in 2020, despite large drop in traffic due to COVID-19 (AUDIO)

April 5, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

While passenger traffic in Missouri has plummeted due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Missouri state troopers say there’s been a three percent increase in traffic fatalities for the year.

A Missouri state trooper’s radar clocks a motorist driving 93 miles-per-hour in northern Missouri’s Troop B in March 2020 (photo courtesy of Missouri State Highway Patrol headquarters)

Missouri State Highway Patrol Captain John Hotz says passenger traffic is down 47 percent statewide since March 13. Captain Hotz and the state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) say passenger traffic in both the Kansas City and St. Louis areas is down 49 percent in the past month.

Click below to see the Highway Patrol report.

Traffic Changes due to COVID-19

“It is alarming when you see the significant reduction in traffic and yet we’re still having the same number of fatal crashes, or even a little bit more than what had we had last year,” Hotz says.

There have been 174 traffic fatalities statewide in 2020, compared to 168 at this time last year.

You’ll notice additional Missouri state troopers on the road, increasing enforcement to stop the rising number of traffic fatalities. Hotz says motorists driving 90-miles-per-hour is “unfortunately becoming commonplace.”

“Now we (the Highway Patrol) are practicing social distancing just like everyone else, but in the end we have a job to do,” says Hotz. “And if we have people that are out there endangering themselves or others, we’re going to take enforcement action on that.”

And he warns motorists that increasing speeds increases the likelihood of serious injuries or death.

“We know the faster that you’re going when you have a traffic crash, the more severe that crash is going to be. There’s just no way around it, we can’t cheat the laws of physics,” Hotz says.

Captain Hotz tells Missourinet that three MoDOT trucks have been struck by motorists in the past week, despite the falling traffic volumes.

There were 879 traffic fatalities in Missouri in 2019.

Click here to listen to the full five-minute interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and Missouri State Highway Patrol Captain John Hotz, which was recorded on April 2, 2020:

Missouri state troopers will be visible on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (AUDIO)

December 23, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

You’ll notice additional Missouri state troopers on the road Tuesday and Wednesday, for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day traffic enforcement.

A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper speaks to a motorist in 2019 (file photo courtesy of Missouri State Highway Patrol Public Information Division)

Missouri State Highway Patrol Captain John Hotz says this year’s 30-hour counting period begins Tuesday evening at 6 and runs through 11:59 on Christmas night.

“We’re encouraging people to make sure that they allot themselves a little bit of extra time, be aware of that extra traffic, be courteous when they’re driving,” Hotz says.

State troopers say 11 Missouri motorists were killed and another 421 suffered injuries during the 2018 Christmas holiday counting period, which was 108-hours. Hotz says there were more than 1,100 traffic crashes during the 2018 holiday.

“We know this time of year a lot of people are celebrating a lot of different things,” says Hotz. “A lot of family gatherings, office parties, those types of things.”

Captain Hotz is also urging you to use a designated driver if you drink during the Christmas period. He tells Missourinet that troopers are participating in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign during the Christmas holiday counting period. The campaign focuses on removing drunk drivers from the road.

“The Patrol is out there looking for those violators to get them off the road before they can be involved in a traffic crash and injure or kill someone,” Hotz says.

Troopers arrested 106 Missouri motorists for driving while impaired, during the 2018 Christmas holiday period.

Hotz also emphasizes that troopers are on the road to assist motorists who run out of gasoline or need other assistance for things like a flat tire. He encourages anyone who needs assistance or who faces a traffic emergency to call *55 on their cell phone. You can also dial 1-800-525-5555.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with Missouri State Highway Patrol Captain John Hotz, which was recorded on December 23, 2019: