JEFFERSON CITY – As another record-breaking construction season ramps up across Missouri, and as part of National Work Zone Awareness Week April 20-24, the Missouri Department of Transportation is reminding motorists to “work with us” by making safe and responsible choices behind the wheel. These efforts are essential to protect highway workers and traveling motorists inside the hundreds of work zones expected across the state this construction season.
In 2025, 24 people were killed in Missouri work zone crashes. Distracted driving contributed to at least 11 of those fatalities as well as more than 400 work zone crashes overall. Distracted driving and driving too fast for the conditions remain the top contributors to work zone crashes.
“On any given day on Missouri’s roadways this construction season, we expect to have as many as 1,000 active work zones in place,” said State Highway Safety and Traffic Engineer Jon Nelson. “And within each of these work zones are men and women simply doing their jobs to build and maintain a transportation system that makes each of our lives a little better. Stay alert, slow down, and let’s do our part to make sure they each get home safe at the end of the day.”
It’s more than a courtesy to slow down and move over in work zones — it’s the law. Missouri’s Move Over law requires drivers to change lanes, when safe, as they approach state vehicles, law enforcement, or any emergency vehicle with flashing lights. If a lane change isn’t possible, drivers must slow down when passing. Motorists should stay alert to changing traffic conditions, follow posted warnings, and merge well before reaching lane closures.
While overall traffic fatalities in Missouri have decreased each of the past three years, the number of work zone fatalities remained the same, and the number of MoDOT vehicles that were struck increased in 2025.
“Our protective vehicles in work zones were struck 50 times, 16 times more than the year prior,” said Nelson. “These protective vehicles are often times the only thing shielding highway workers from an errant vehicle, and the fact they were hit 50 times is a sobering reminder of just how critical it is that drivers pay attention and respect the work being done. The best way drivers can ‘work with us’ is by slowing down, putting down the phone, and navigating work zones with patience.”
Drivers can visit MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map at www.traveler.modot.org and find out what work zones they’ll encounter along their trips this construction season.
For more information, call MoDOT at 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org. To receive the latest statewide news and text alerts, signup for e-updates.