As construction season ramps up in Missouri, and as part of National Work Zone Awareness Week April 21 to 25, the Missouri Department of Transportation is reminding motorists to “work with us” by making safe and responsible driving choices behind the wheel, according to a state press release.
These efforts are essential to protect motorists and workers inside the hundreds of work zones expected across the state this construction season.
In 2024, 23 people were killed in Missouri work zone crashes. Distracted driving contributed to at least four of those fatalities as well as more than 350 work zone crashes overall. Distracted driving and driving too fast for the conditions remain the top contributors to work zone crashes.
“On any given day on Missouri’s roadways this construction season, you can expect to see between 800 to 1,000 active work zones,” said Jon Nelson, state highway safety and traffic engineer. “And within each of these work zones are men and women simply doing their job to construct and maintain a transportation system that makes each of our lives a little better. Stay alert and slow down to keep them safe.”
It’s not just a courtesy to slow down and move over for these work zones — it’s the law. Missouri’s Move Over law requires drivers to change lanes, if safe to do so, when approaching MoDOT vehicles, law enforcement vehicles and any other emergency vehicle with lights flashing. If drivers can’t change lanes safely, they must slow down as they pass the emergency vehicles. Drivers should be aware of changing traffic conditions, observe warning signs and merge before reaching lane closures.
“Since passage of the Siddens Bening Hands-Free law here in Missouri, we’ve seen progress,” said Nelson. “Our work zone vehicles were struck nearly half as many times as the year prior, and 2024 saw a decrease in work zone fatalities. But we still have a lot of work to do, and high speeds and distraction remain our greatest concern. It’s why we ask everyone to ‘work with us’ by putting down the phone and slowing down. Doing so will go a long way in continuing to lower work zone fatalities in Missouri.”
