Trailnet has released their 2021 St. Louis Crash Report. This report documents traffic crashes last year in St. Louis City and County, as well as Trailnet’s suggested solutions for reducing deaths and injuries.
The major takeaways:
In 2021, 178 people were killed and more than 14,000 people injured in traffic crashes in St. Louis City and County.
In St. Louis City, the number of pedestrians killed in crashes increased for the fourth year in a row
In St. Louis County, the total number of traffic deaths exceeded 100 for the first time since data was available.
In both city and county, these crashes occurred at disproportionately higher rates in predominantly Black and minority communities.
High-crash corridors: Over the last 5 years in the City of St. Louis, nine roads were responsible for 40% of crashes affecting pedestrians and 46% of pedestrian deaths. These high-crash corridors make up only 1.5% of the city’s road network. In St. Louis County, over that same 5 year window, eight roads accounted for 34% of pedestrian crashes and 45% of pedestrian deaths.
Trailnet’s recommendations for governments to reduce deaths and injuries:
Address high-crash corridors
Reduce speeding through street design
Improve safety near bus stops
Adopt a comprehensive need-based approach to traffic safety
Additional highlights:
95% of pedestrian deaths in the city and county occured on streets with speed limits of 30mph or greater.
32% of deadly car crashes involved at least one car speeding.
In the city 36% of pedestrian crashes occurred within 200 ft of a bus stop.
