Advocates has written to leaders of the Missouri Senate urging them to oppose Senate Bill (SB) 1408. This legislation would increase the speed limit to 75 miles per hour (mph) on rural interstates and freeways, up from 70 mph, endangering state residents and visitors.
In 2024, there were an overall estimated 965 traffic fatalities in Missouri according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is a 11 percent increase since 2015.2 Speeding is a major factor leading to traffic fatalities, contributing to 37 percent of traffic fatalities in the state in 2023 which ranks among the 10 highest states and is a higher proportion than all neighboring states.
Research and statistics consistently and convincingly show speeding is a major safety problem and raising speed limits increases traffic fatalities. Even seemingly modest speed limit changes can have huge impacts on overall traffic safety.
Read the full letter here.