With just two months left in the year, Missouri transportation and public safety officials are warning drivers to take extra precautions on the road. They say the final stretch of the year is typically the deadliest for motorists, driven by holiday travel, shorter days and more impaired driving.

So far, 745 people have died on Missouri roads in 2025 — about 1% fewer than this time last year. But officials fear that number could climb sharply as the holiday season begins.

Missouri Department of Transportation deputy director and chief engineer Eric Schroeter said driver behavior remains the biggest factor in roadway deaths.

“Two a day, every day on average, lose their lives on our highway system,” Schroeter said. “That’s unacceptable for Missouri.”

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is s

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