Last year, 646 people were injured or killed while walking or biking in 533 reported crashes in St. Louis City & County.
2023 was the deadliest year on record for people walking in St. Louis County.
In the City of St. Louis, we saw the lowest number of total traffic fatalities since 2018. For the first time since 2014, there were fewer than 10 pedestrian fatalities in the City. And still, the total number of crashes on City streets went up from 2022 to 2023.
These and other key findings are part of Trailnet’s “2023 St. Louis City and County Crash Report.” This report is a snapshot and analysis of traffic violence in the region, the progress on the road to safer streets and St. Louisans’ experiences of the infrastructure they use daily.
In addition to reporting crash data, this year’s report features a new section of “St. Louis Street Stories.” From November 2023 -January 2024, hundreds of residents filled out Trailnet’s public “St. Louis Street Stories” survey. The resultant section of this report represents only a selection of our neighbors’ many passionate responses. We hope these stories effectively supplement our crash data with personal accounts from the people who walk, bike, drive and take public transit in St. Louis every day.
“Trailnet wants to equip community members, the media, and decision-makers with the information they need to track the impact of traffic violence and demand safer streets,” said Cindy Mense, Trailnet’s CEO. “This year, we share the stories of people impacted and the ripple effect of this disturbing trend in driving behavior. The human toll is immeasurable.”
Our last three annual Crash Reports have helped local transportation agencies prioritize and justify new safety projects, provided local journalists with a digestible set of statistics to strengthen their coverage of traffic violence and catalyzed systemic change in the region.
We hope this year’s report is equally impactful. We encourage everyone to use these statistics to advocate for safer streets for all users in their own community, and we welcome feedback and conversations about the findings presented.
The report is based on data from the Missouri Statewide Traffic Accident Records System, which catalogs crash information from law enforcement agencies across the state.
For questions about the report, email planning@trailnet.org
2023 Crash Report in the News:
- Data reveals dangers persist for St. Louis-area pedestrians and bicyclists, but new funding may help – KSDK early exclusive
- St. Louis County Saw Its Highest Ever Number of Pedestrian Deaths in 2023 – Riverfront Times
- Pedestrians killed in vehicle crashes jumped in St. Louis County last year – St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- Trailnet’s 2023 Crash Report Examines the Stories, Trends, and Tragedies – Terrain Magazine