Most of Missouri's pedestrian fatalities occur on high-speed and arterial roads, especially just beyond intersections along those roads.
That's according to Trailnet's Erich Hellmer, author of the 'State of Our Streets' report that was published on Monday.
“About 80% of fatalities are taking place on arterial roads, which have speed limits of anywhere from 30 to, 40, 45, 50 mile per hour," Hellmer says.
Hellmer says that more than half of those fatalities took place on roads with speeds of specifically 35 miles-per hour.
Three cyclists died due to vehicle crashes last year, marking the first cycling fatalities since 2022 in St. Louis.
Hellmer says that arterial roads, including St. Louis’s Gravois Avenue, remain especially dangerous for residents.
“When we see those kinds of numbers, what I think we're seeing is the fact that all sorts of different people are using those streets in different ways," Hellmer explains. "And it's creating these conflicts between vulnerable road users and drivers."
Nearly 85% of pedestrian and 66% of cyclist fatalities occurred on arterial roads last year.
Missourinet