The State Department of Transportation says traffic fatalities in Missouri are increasing after falling for six straight years.
The Missouri Department of Transportation says there have been 62 more traffic deaths so far this year compared to this point last year, including 11 more deaths in Mid-Missouri. Captain Tim Hull of the Missouri State Highway Patrol says the most common contributor to traffic deaths is drivers not wearing their seatbelt.
“The alarming fact is we’re seeing that over two-thirds of those people who have been killed in those types of classes were not wearing their seatbelt,” Hull said.
Hull says the Highway Patrol is looking to step up traffic stops to try to lower the number of traffic deaths in the second half of the year. So far 375 people have died on Missouri roadways this year. There were 784 deaths in all of last year.
