Roughly Two-Thirds of Missouri's 1,000 Traffic Deaths Were People Not Wearing Seat Belts [View all]

A total of 1,007 deaths in Missouri were attributed to car accidents, increasing by 2 percent over 2020's traffic deaths. The new data also showed that 2021 was the second straight year that traffic fatalities have risen, as the state previously saw a steady decline in accidents for nearly a decade.

Perhaps most surprising about the Missouri data were the causes attributed to these deaths. Around two-thirds of all traffic fatalities were attributed to the deceased person not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Furthermore, 41 percent of fatal crashes involved speeding or driving too fast for conditions.

"These fatalities are unacceptable, alarming and preventable," said Patrick McKenna, the current director of the Missouri Department of Transportation. "There are simple things we can all do to make a real impact on our roadways. Wearing your seat belt is your best line of defense in a crash and avoiding distractions can prevent those crashes in the first place. Buckle up, phone down."

https://www.newsweek.com/roughly-two-thirds-missouris-1000-traffic-deaths-were-people-not-wearing-seat-belts-1665607