Missouri Highway Patrol warns of road safety risks for students

The Missouri Highway Patrol is urging motorists to exercise caution as students return to school in areas such as Columbia. Officials noted that in 2024, the state recorded 834 traffic crashes involving school buses, resulting in seven deaths and 345 injuries.

Sergeant Kyle Green of Troop F stated that the primary dangers are not the buses themselves, but rather distracted drivers and pedestrians. Most accidents occur when motorists fail to stop for buses or when drivers are inattentive to children near bus stops.

Data from a 2025 Consumer Affairs report ranks Missouri as the fourth-worst state for teen drivers, with a fatality rate of 22.9 per 100,000—nearly double the national average. The state also ranks second for fatal crashes involving speeding teenagers.