Missouri OL Stats and Analytics 2025

Crossing crashes in Missouri for 2025 appear to have decreased 3% compared to the same time period last year at 28 crossing incidents, Fatalities have increased by 60% for the same time period at five, and injuries are down 12% at seven in 2025 when compared to the same time period in 2024. This is an increase in fatalities of 3 and a decrease in injuries over the previous year, indicating our program must continue to work toward 0 in all categories

In 2024 Missouri experienced a total of two fatalities at public rail crossings, which was a 50% decrease for the year compared to 2023.   

Missouri Pedestrian/trespass incidents continue steady as they have for the past decade.  In 2025 there 19 trespass incidents resulting in 10 fatalities and nine injuries.  Missouri trespass incidents show an decrease of 20% for this year as compared to the same time period year last year, and the fatalities are also down 37% at 10 and injuries stayed even at nine. 

While continuing to implement our action plan set forth by the Missouri Operation Lifesaver Board of Directors the number of Railroad Investigation Safety Courses, (RISC) have increased the past two years.  This training is also MO POST Certified for 1-, 2-, or 4-hour credit. In 2025 Ten Railroad Investigation Safety Courses (RISC) were given to 175 law enforcement officers and First Responders.  One of which was provided during See Tracks Think Train Week. 

We were able to assist with six Officer on the Train Events between April and September, there were 91 citations and 16 warnings issued.

Schools have continued to be difficult to get back into following the Covid pandemic. Through December 31, 2025, 112 presentations to 2,663 attendees were given, seven of which were conducted during See Tracks Think Train Week.  The Special Events this year have been successful, as those include displays and safety booths. There was a total of 19 Special events in 2025 with an attendance of 1,328, two of which were held during See Tracks Think Train Week. We were able to train 16 new OLAVs this year in three separate trainings in St. Louis, Kansas City and Jefferson City, MO.

The breakdown by project is as follows:

Educational Material for Safety Presentations, - $2,000.00 

(Expended $2,000.00)

            Railroad Safety Activity and coloring books for ages pre-K – 5th grade. $1,861.95.  Replaced TV in the Railroad Safety Display within the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Safety Education Center $138.05.

Officer on the Train & Grade Crossing Collision Investigation Events, PEPs, and OOTs $3,000.00

(Expended $2,598.77)

See Tracks Think Train Week was Sept. 15 – 21, 2025. We were able to conduct ten Railroad Investigation Safety Courses (RISC) given to 175 law enforcement officers and first responders primarily in our target counties. We were able to assist with 6 separate Officer on the Train events in Jackson County, MO where 91 citations were issued for various traffic and crossing violations.

Consultant Services, Media Campaign State Funds Match - $10,000.00

(Expended $10,000.00)

Media Campaign was with Learfield Communications. (See more information below on campaign).

            Missouri Operation Lifesaver conducted a statewide radio ad and social media program for the months of July through September, 2025.  The cost of the project is $40,000.00. Funding is as follows:

                        OLI/FRA Grant - $20,000.00

                        Hwy Safety Grant –$10,000.00 (State match)

Learfield Communication - $10,000.00 (Bonus in kind)

The Campaign began in July and ran through September, Missouri Farm Safety Week, to include See Tracks Think Train Week September 15 – 21, 2025.  

Results of Targeting Counties – Decline in the Target County Number of Crashes, and No Increase in Statewide Incidents.

Eight counties were targeted in 2025 using crash data from 2023-2024.  A total of 35 crashes with four fatalities and five injuries occurred in those Eight target counties during the years 2023 and 2024. In those specific counties through Dec. 31, 2025, the preliminary numbers for crash data are eight crashes, zero fatalities and two injuries.  We have experienced a decrease in crossing collisions statewide compared to the same time period as last year, and trespassing incidents thus far appear to have decreased as well compared to the same time period, encouraging us to conduct even more of these enforcement events in 2026 and continue to target our highest incident locations.