By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Missouri roadway fatalities were slightly down throughout 2023.
Preliminary data shows the state of Missouri saw 989 traffic fatalities last year, a six percent decrease from 2022.
Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman Seargent Shane Hux with Troop H says locally there was a drop, but it didn't quite mirror the statewide numbers
"In 23' we ended the year with 41 fatalities in northwest Missouri here in the Troop H area compared to 42 back in 2022," Hux tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.
While overall traffic fatalities were down, the number of motorcycle fatalities has never been higher.
Hux says though Missouri repealed its helmet law, it's still important to encourage motorcyclists to wear a helmet.
"Because that is your number one safety device when you're on a motorcycle, just like riding in a vehicle you know your number one safety device is your seatbelt," Hux explains. "So that's all we can do is encourage them and tell them your chance of surviving if your involved in a motor vehicle crash when you're on your motorcycle, your chances of surviving that increase if you're wearing a helmet."
Across Missouri there were 175 motorcyclists killed, a 14 percent increase from 2022, making it the highest number of motorcycle fatalities reported in Missouri.
Hux says to keep the numbers going down this year, the goal of the highway patrol is enforcement and education of four key areas.
"Always obey the traffic laws, they're there for a reason, they're there for your safety they're there for the safety of the motoring public, that's huge to obey those traffic laws," Hux says. "Always make sure that you and everybody inside the vehicle buckles up each and every time they get inside their vehicle, never operate while impaired, and always devote 100% of your attention to driving at all times."
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