Missouri traffic deaths on the rise after 6-year decline | News

(KFVS) - After six years of decline, the Missouri State Highway Patrol says traffic deaths are on the rise.

The highway patrol would like drivers to be more aware of the importance of paying attention and obeying traffic laws when driving.

Missouri has experienced a decline in traffic deaths over the past six years, but the first six months of 2012 have had a higher rate of traffic deaths than expected. When comparing the same time period last year to this year, Missouri has experienced an increase of 62 traffic deaths.

Reports show over two-thirds of deadly crashes involved people not wearing seatbelts. A common contributing factor in crashes was failure to remain in the correct lane.

Colonel Ron Replogle, superintendent of the Missouri Highway Patrol, stresses that drivers give their full attention to driving, follow traffic laws and always wear a seatbelt.

A 30 second PSA  from Colonel Replogle on how drivers can help prevent traffic deaths in available on the main page of the Patrol's web site at www.mshp.dps.mo.gov.

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