Data: Lack of seat belts, alcohol use key in vehicle deaths in Springfield, SW Missouri
Alcohol and a lack of seatbelt and helmet use contributed to many deaths on southwest Missouri highways in 2023, according to Missouri Highway Patrol.
MSHP Troop D investigated 145 of the 192 total deadly vehicle crashes in the region this past year (the 47 other incidents occurred outside MSHP jurisdiction, including city limits) and came to several determinations, including:
Of the 145 who lost their lives, MSHP said 66% were not wearing seat belts in vehicles where wearing the safety device was required.
Forty-two of the deaths were via motorcycle, a 23% increase from 2022. In the 2023 motorcycle fatalities, 21 were not wearing helmets.
"The percentage of (2023 vehicle) fatalities in which alcohol was listed as a probable contributing cause was up roughly 72% from last year," MSHP Troop D spokesman Mike McClure said.
MSHP Troop D oversees the highways of 18 southwest Missouri counties. According to its data, there were 196 total (multiple jurisdictions) vehicle deaths in 2022 and 187 in 2021.
Springfield vehicle deaths remain steady
When 27 people died in vehicle crashes in the Springfield city limits in 2020, it was a record mark that would soon be broken.
The number increased to 30 in 2021 before a slight decline to 28 in 2022. This past year, Springfield vehicle deaths reached 29.
Of the 29 Springfield vehicle deaths in 2023, according to Springfield police, six were vehicle vs. pedestrian deaths and 10 were motorcyclists.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Data: Vehicle deaths remain steady in Springfield, southwest Missouri
